No, rescued people are not expected to pay. We prefer to educate and alert people to the potential risks and encourage people to plan and take responsibility for themselves.

We want people to request help if they are in distress or if their loved ones are missing.

We don’t want people hiding from us to avoid costs.However, if there is evidence of recklessness Police may lay charges and seek costs.

Search and Rescue operations are funded by a number of government agencies including Police. It is a service provided to make our outdoors safer for New Zealanders and overseas visitors to enjoy.

For more information visit:

• LandSAR New Zealand
• Coastguard New Zealand
• Adventure Smart 
• Beacons New Zealand