17/10/2025
Big shoutout to Ella, who recently represented Raglan at a SARX training in the South Island!
Check out what she had to say about the awesome experience 👇
As a senior search and rescue squad lifeguard with 14 years lifeguarding experience, I was selected by SLSNZ SAR staff to take part in the annual regional SAR Exercise in Otago Region based in Doubtful Sound. This opportunity for leadership development and networking with SAR staff from other regions was invaluable, with opportunities for refining large scale search operations with multiple on water assets and gaining skills with Garmin GPS devices. Part of the SAREX involved setting up and communicating with the Incident Management Team (IMT) alongside having an on-water Incident Control (IC), which led to an overall efficient search and rescue scenario recovering all the lost persons and items of interest. Thank you SLSNZ for an amazing opportunity to network and connect with so many incredible individuals, who work behind the scenes and at the coal face to deliver the SAR services to those in need.
Mauri ora,
Ella Boyens
