Search and rescue volunteers and police are gearing up to rescue six people lost in the Tararua ranges during March as part of a major training exercise to test and refresh skills.
Exercises of this kind are held annually across the country in key areas. Groups from the Manawatu and Horowhenua join forces alternating their annual exercise between the two areas.
This year 75 volunteers from seven different clubs and groups will take part alongside the police.
Six experienced volunteers will be left in the Tararua ranges overnight on Friday, 6 March prompting the launch of a search and rescue operation. The operation will be ramped up on the Saturday morning (7 March) with a large scale deployment of resources including an Iroquois helicopter.
Rescuers will be briefed up on the circumstances and then provided with specialist winch and hoist training by the Royal New Zealand Air Force. This training is mandatory for any personnel who will be carrying out winch rescues from Iroquois helicopters.
Teams will then be deployed to find and rescue the 'lost' people.
Although it is an exercise it is important to keep it as real as possible. Rescuers will have basic information to begin with and will learn more as the situation evolves. The speed in which they rescue the 'lost' trampers will depend on how they deal with the information. On Sunday, when the exercise is complete a debrief will be held.
Search and Rescue Coordinator for Central District, Sergeant Bill Nicholson said: "It is vital that we test all disciplines surrounding SAR and blood in new people. The debrief then helps us to understand what went well and what could be done better. There is always something to be learned from these exercises and it allows us to modify existing procedures to work more effectively in the future. "
Any members of the public using the ranges on the weekend of March 6-8 may across the 'lost' people in the ranges. There will also be noticeable aircraft activity but the public can be assured that it is not a real incident.
In the event that a real incident does occur during this weekend, appropriate resources will be diverted and if necessary, the exercise will be stood down.
The groups taking part in the exercise are the Horowhenua Hunting Club, Levin Waiopehu Tramping Club, Manawatu Tramping and Skiing Club, Palmerston North Tramping and Mountaineering Club, RNZAP Base Contingency Force, Central Districts Field and Game Club and Tararua Search and Rescue Group. The Amateur Radio Emergency Corp (AREC) will also be involved.
Media enquiries should be referred to Sgt Bill Nicholson on 027 238 6344 or Communications Manager Kim Perks on 06 351 2546 or 027 234 8256.