Wakatipu Search & Rescue

13/03/2026

Field team training under a pretty epic Wakatipu sunset this week.

The evening started with the Admin Unit at the portacom, running through an overview of a Search and Rescue Operation (SAROP) understanding how searches are planned, coordinated and managed before teams head into the field.

Then the Field Team headed up Coronet Peak Road to the Mt Dewar area to put some practical skills into action. The focus for the night was using thermal imagers, binoculars, and passive containment/observation techniques, all about slowing down, watching carefully, and picking up the small details that can make the difference in a search. Thermal imaging allows warm objects, like people, to stand out clearly against cooler surroundings, even in low light.

Great to see everyone out training, learning and sharpening skills together.

13/02/2026

While we may have taken a short break from formal training over the Christmas and New Year period, it certainly wasn’t a quiet summer for Wakatipu Search and Rescue.

Throughout the holiday season our volunteers remained actively engaged in operations across the region. Our Incident Management Team, Administration Support, Field teams, Alpine Cliff Rescue and Search Dog handlers were all involved in responding to incidents. On average, our teams were deployed weekly, providing vital support to those who needed assistance.

Summer in Wakatipu brings an increase in visitors exploring our mountains and backcountry. We’re proud of the commitment shown by our volunteers, who stepped up time and again to ensure people were brought home.

Last night marked our first training of 2026, bringing the team back together for a safe river crossing session — an essential skill given the dynamic and often hazardous river conditions in our region. We finished the evening with a well-earned BBQ, reconnecting as a team and reflecting on a busy start to the year.

A huge thank you to our volunteers and their whānau If you’d like to learn more about Land Search and Rescue and how you can support our work, visit www.landsar.org.nz

17/12/2025

15/12/2025

Sending our deepest condolences to Family, friends, our volunteers and all those involved 🧡

Police Search and Rescue have recovered the bodies of two people from the Fiordland National Park.

Police were notified at around 7:40pm on Saturday 13 December that the pair were missing, when another climbing party activated a beacon after the pair failed to return from their intended route.

One of the pair was located deceased but access was difficult due to the deteriorating weather on Saturday evening.

On Sunday, Police and Wakatipu Aline Cliff Rescue specialists returned to the scene and located the second person, also deceased.

Both bodies were extracted in what was a difficult and technical rescue.

The north buttress of Sabre Peak, where the bodies were located, is a 500-metre-long route and is on the bucket list of many climbers.

One of the deceased was an Australian citizen, the second person was a dual citizen of New Zealand and Canada, residing in Australia.

Sergeant Alun Griffiths wished to thank the Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rrescue team, RCCNZ, Heliworks and Southern Lakes Helicopters in what was a complex and challenging recovery.

"This is a result nobody wanted, and our thoughts are with their families.

“Police are in contact with the families and are offering the necessary support.”

The formal identification process is underway, and the deaths have been referred to the Coroner.

05/12/2025

02/12/2025

23/10/2025

As wild spring weather lashes the country, New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) is urging outdoor adventurers to prepare for all conditions this Labour Weekend.

Severe weather has caused disruption and damage across New Zealand this week, and more heavy rain and damaging winds are forecast to hit on Thursday, impacting much of the country in the lead-up to the long weekend.

“The extreme conditions we’ve seen this week are a timely reminder for outdoor enthusiasts, like hikers, trampers and hunters, to make the weather a key consideration in their preparation,” says MSC Chief Executive Mike Daisley.

“Labour Weekend is traditionally the start of the summer tramping season and many people will have been planning their trips for months. However, it’s essential to consider whether your trip is achievable in the current conditions, with flooded rivers and storm damage likely across many parts of the country.”

MSC encourages hikers and trampers to check Plan My Walk, the free trip planning app and website, for the latest alerts, including MetService weather warnings, Department of Conservation (DOC) track updates and NZ Avalanche Advisory danger ratings.

“With the rain and winds throughout the week, some tracks will have sustained damage from flooding, slips, and fallen branches and trees,” says Mike. “It’s essential to check for any track alerts before you go. If you are the first to come across track damage, you should leave a track review in Plan My Walk to inform others and report any concerns to DOC.”

The opening of the country’s most popular Great Walk, the Milford Track,has already been delayed by 2 weeks due to flooding and avalanche damage. DOC plans to reopen the track on 12 November 2025, depending on weather conditions and repairs.

River levels are likely to remain high through the weekend due to rain and spring snowmelt, and MSC stresses that adventurers need to plan ahead for unbridged river crossings.

“If a river is moving faster than walking pace, dirty and discoloured, noisy or is carrying debris like tree branches, it’s unsafe to cross,” says Mike. “If in doubt, stay out – no destination is worth the risk of an unsafe river crossing.”

MSC has a range of free resources, including essential river crossing skills, on its website to help people prepare effectively for their trips and make safer decisions.

“Be prepared in case you have to change your plans or wait for a river level to drop,” says Mike.

MSC advises packing an extra day's worth of food, an emergency shelter and an emergency comms device, like a Personal Locator Beacon.

“Taking a two-way comms device, like an inReach or eligible mobile with satellite text, is also a good idea so you can let your emergency contact know that you've been delayed,” says Mike. “Above all, always be prepared to postpone or change your plans. The best decision is the one that gets you home safe.”

Safety Checklist for Labour Weekend
🔸Watch the weather forecast and consider how it will impact your trip.
🔸Check for track alerts on Plan My Walk: https://planmywalk.nz/tracks
🔸Plan ahead for river crossings and know the signs of an unsafe river.
🔸Pack gear in case you are delayed as the weather changes fast in the outdoors.
🔸Be prepared to postpone your trip or switch to a backup plan.

23/10/2025

We’re incredibly grateful to share that Shotover Systems, through the generosity of the Hugo Charitable Trust, has chosen Wakatipu Search and Rescue as the recipient of a generous donation.

This support will greatly help our operations, ensuring our volunteer team remains trained, equipped, and ready to respond 24/7 to those lost, missing, or injured in our region.

As an organisation powered by volunteers, donations like this are vital to keeping our mahi going strong.

👉 Learn more about our work: www.wakatipusar.co.nz

SHOTOVER

21/10/2025

We haven’t posted in a while — but it’s not because we’ve been hibernating! Our team has been flat-out responding to callouts and keeping skills sharp through winter, which is traditionally a quieter season.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the last 6 months:

📍 14 operations – that’s more than one every fortnight
👥 22 people rescued or assisted
🧡 146 volunteer responder attendances
⏱️ 3,800 hours deployed on operations

Alongside operations, we’ve been training hard to ensure we’re ready for anything in our alpine environment. Here are a few photos from our AGM with awards to New Volunteer of the Year and Volunteer of the Year awards, recent avalanche refresher course, designed to keep our team sharp in snow-covered terrain.

We also held a recruitment weekend last weekend, where we welcomed a new group of incredible volunteers all in fresh snow conditions!

To all our volunteers, thank you. To our community, your support means the world. Stay tuned as we share more from the field.