As many of you will be aware, the government has requested that a review be made of the Police Department. NZLSAR has written to the head of the Review Team, Mr Doug Martin and then followed this with a more extensive submission. Below is the Executive Summary from our submission. For more information on NZLSAR’s position contact either myself or the NFO.

2.1 The Police should remain the principal government agency for the provision of SAR services.

2.2 has been prepared to Other Departments should have a funded commitment of support to Police for search and rescue.

2.3 The Police should support the position of a National SAR coordinator as a sworn officer.

2.4 The Police should continue the support of a NZLSAR Field Officer.

2.5 The Police should continue to support the positions of SAR Coordinator at Police Region and District levels.

2.6 The positions referred to in 2.5 could be civilianised.

2.7 The Police should continue to provide SAR trained Officers at appropriate locations, in appropriate numbers, to support SAR operations and conduct police tasks related to the operation.

2.8 The Police should continue the provision of SAR administrative and equipment resources for the non-government SAR elements at an adequate level.

2.9 NZLSAR should continue its provision of SAR advice and resources as presently supplied.

2.10 SAR training of Police and non Police personnel should be coordinated and jointly performed and both be equitably and appropriately funded

2.11 Funding levels should be sufficient to ensure both Police and civilian SAR personnel operate to agreed international standards of best practice

2.12 Outsourcing of the operational aspects of SAR is recognised as undesirable.

2.13 If non-operational aspects of SAR were to be outsourced, NZLSAR has the capacity to negotiate for the supply of them.

2.14 Civilianised and outsourced contracts will achieve best economy and avoid duplication of resources provided the administration is linked to the Police.

Graham Thorp
Chairman NZLSAR

The NZLSAR AGM will be held on Saturday 22 August 1998 starting at 1100 hours. The Committee meeting will start at 0830, pause for the AGM and continue afterwards. So Phil Rundle as Treasurer can close off the financial accounts prior to the annual audit, all accounts must be in my hand as soon after the end of the financial year as possible (30 June). If the account has not been received please contact either Phil of I with an approximate indication so we can go to the Auditor knowing of any outstanding expenses. As well all AGM and Committee papers must be in my hand by 10 July for both Constitutional reasons and to allow members to read and consider the information circulated.

A requirement of the Constitution is that as well as a financial audit, the Annual Report include a performance audit for the previous year, Clause 8a(ii). Dr Anthony Jones who I mentioned in the October 1997 News is visiting New Zealand just before the AGM. He has agreed to perform this for us which will be primarily of the NZLSAR management functions. Anthony has been involved in over 800 operations in South Africa, Wales, England, Scotland Norway, Austria and the USA, so comes with a strong practical background. He has a diverse interest in SAR and has had associations with SAR dogs, medical, alpine rescue and Speleological societies. He has also received honours for his work in this work. At an auditing level his experience is more limited having done two on the Dublin/Wicklow Mountain Rescue Team and one for the Hong Kong Mountain Rescue Unit. This audit on NZLSAR is seen as very much a learning experience for both parties.

In looking at the performance of the national body, it would be good for him to see and provide comment on how we carry out an operation and I suspect he will find a number of things different here. Every effort will be made for Anthony to associate with those carrying out the operations, "the real SAR practitioners" and his attendance at a number of District events is being arranged. What has surprised me is without mentioning him beyond a small group of people, that within that group, two had met him on overseas visits. If there are other New Zealanders who have had associations with Anthony and would like to meet him again, please contact me and I will see if it can be arranged. He arrives in the country 10 July and departs 9 August

John P Tristram
National Field Officer

If you think it is hard to get into a Police station, you should try getting out! John Tristram and I returned a car one recent evening to Christchurch Central and had to get someone in the watchhouse to zap his card and let us in. We carefully parked the car and went back to the gate. Locked! Tried walking about in a beam which we thought may have been there to trigger the locks, but to no avail. The yard, over half an acre in size is deserted, it has been a long day, its getting late, it is impossible to get into the station and the walls are high. There were two choices. Either drive out again (we knew that vehicles activate the gate mechanism) or hope that the sight of two strangers wandering about the yard arouses the interest of whoever watches the surveillance systems. Reappearing in the watchhouse to ask to be let in for the second time would have probably resulted in our arrest and no-one seemed to be very security conscious at that moment. Time goes by, the wandering about solution wasn’t working, desperation was nigh. Loud barking from a pack of ferocious police dogs also failed to draw any response from the night shift but led us to a dark doorway and narrow stairway to where a dog handler reposed. Desperate ringing of his door bell, down the stairs he came (thankfully without his dog), a slightly embarrassed explanation of our predicament and he laughed like a drain all the way to the gate, but we did escape.

Dave Saunders
Adviser Canterbury District

I saw the following article in a recent "Rescue Rucksack", a publication of the Tacoma Mountain Rescue Unit and make no comment other to say they had taken it from page 9 of something called Trivia in the Soundlife section of the Tacoma News Tribune. I thank them and hope they won’t mind me using it.

First be sure to use snow from the same snowfall. Then with the door block pulled shut, light an oil lamp inside. As its heat melts interior snow, walls wick moisture to the exterior where it ices over. Next, bore a roof hole and push open the door block. Warm air escapes upward. Cold air rushes in to make a thin film of ice on the interior wall. Close the door block. That’s it. Plenty warm. At sub-zero outside, two of you therein could play cribbage in your underwear.

At a recent meeting of the Wellington Search and Rescue Organisation, John Tristram asked me for details of our training programmes for the national newsletter. He was also keen for attendance figures plus how many people had pre-booked for courses later in the year.

As a background, in the Wellington District we are working toward having a core group of about 60 to 70 trained field personnel. We have established a yearly training program that reflects the skill development requirements of our front-line line search teams. Training needs are reviewed annually by the Land Advisers in conjunction with the Police and the program is developed from there. Feedback from our members is regularly sought and all courses are debriefed and revised as necessary.

You will note that we now expect a 50% attendance record at training and have recently addressed those members whose training level has fallen short of the Advisers expectations. It is very encouraging to see high levels of commitment to training with the benefits clearly apparent in field operations. Our local members support the policy of attendance at training and are very enthusiastic about the range of training courses provided. This is our third year of running a comprehensive training program and all courses to date have been well attended, with most having a waiting list.

On the one day courses we usually take between 12 and 16 people, with the weekend courses taking up to 24. Instructors come from the Advisers, Police, our Medical Team and other specialists who support particular courses. Funding for the program is from the Wellington Metro Police District, with additional assistance from the Wellington SAR Organisation and some local businesses. Most one day courses cost around $100 to run with the weekend courses more expensive as they involve accommodation and food. There is no charge to anyone attending.

I have set out below our 1998 training program with the number of attendees or people booked (as of mid April) on each course for interest. I have also included our training objectives. If you would like any further information please don't hesitate to contact myself on 04 476-3459.

As well, three Advisers have attended an Advisers Standards Workshop and it is anticipated some twenty senior SAR personnel will attend the Field Controllers Standards one day Workshop on Saturday 27 June.

• spread the training across the year to ease the burden on everyone
• aim to train between 12 to 16 personnel or 4 teams on the day programmes unless larger group is required
• keep the training days to between 8.30am and 3.00pm finish
• spread the 3 weekend courses throughout the year
• the Land SAR Advisers want to see front-line SAR personnel attending at least 50% of the training programmes offered each year to keep skills current.

Happy training

Terry Patterson
Adviser Wellington District

While talking of training, Roscoe has asked me to include information on a number of events and activities being arranged or facilitated by the NZLSAR, its Training Sub Committee or others that are occurring around the country.

Also the Field Guide has been distributed around the country and has received appreciative comments. If you did not receive a copy or further copies are required, contact the NFO. In the pipeline is an accompanying item, the Member Course Workbook. This outlines the competencies required of a SAR Team Member, a number of Competency Testing sheets and a Competency Assignment, in a series of modules. Good stuff and it is hoped to have it printed and distributed soon.

Roscoe Tait
Chairman Training Sub Committee

On the weekend of 17/18/19 April the Region held an Advisers Seminar at Greymouth with the venue being the Greymouth Army Hall. Attended by over half the 24 Advisers in the Region it was a time for those from adjacent Districts to meet and discuss in both the formal and informal sessions, mutual problems associated with SAR. With both Terry Sweetman, the Regional Representative and John Tristram, the National field Officer in attendance the agenda was able to cover items from the local scene to activities at a national level. The agenda included:-

Progress of NZLSAR to date with the NFO giving a list of highlights and achievements from the first meeting of NZLSAR in November 1994. In realising what had been achieved, it was helpful in understanding the direction and goals the Committee had set itself for the future and which were explained in a later paper.

An update was given by each District on activities being carried out. For administration purposes the Region has kept the previous land areas of Canterbury, South Canterbury and West Coast for its participating Districts and Dave Saunders, Gordon Hasell and myself gave an overview for each of their respective Districts. Both Dave and Terry reported that their Districts in the last few years have had major structural changes to the management and operating systems. Canterbury has been divided into five Sectors with a number of SAR groups in each. A "Memorandum of Understanding" (MOU) has been signed setting out the membership of each Sector. There are no Sector boundaries, the numbers to be deployed for an operation has been set and the requirement to involve other Sectors clearly stated. The aim has been to reduce within the District, the proliferating SAR groups and the large numbers of poorly trained or untrained searchers. While not without a lot of hard work, considerable soul searching and some personal upsets, all attendees from Canterbury were unanimous that SAR in their District, at both the management and operational levels, had improved immeasurably.

The agenda included a review of the Advisers Standards. These were discussed and there was a general feeling that some form of "Adviser refresher course" was appropriate. What was unanimous was the belief that the Standards were needed and those being used were of great value. When the NFO took a "devils advocate" role and asked negative questions about the general need for standards and the value of these particular ones, he was quickly rebuffed. The Advisers in attendance took full ownership of the Advisers Standards and were quite prepared to defend them.

A session on training was led by Brian Holland. Discussion groups were formed with the task to identify what training they thought was needed. The outcome was interesting with a consensus for TCA, MSO, instruction in the use of GPS and an expansion of the Field Guide into Training Modules. Only South Canterbury continues with the traditional SAREX along with other training, the other two Districts have a more extensive year round training programme.

On Saturday afternoon a visit was made firstly to the Canterbury West Coast Trust Air Rescue facilities in Greymouth and we were given a display of the Squirrel helicopter and its equipment. After this a visit was made to the West Coast Coast Guard Unit and we were shown their (newly acquired from England) rescue launch in its recently completed boathouse, which included ablution and catering facilities plus a large well appointed lecture room.

Saturday evening included a "familiarisation with West Coast hospitality" session and a "show and tell" evening with slides and commentary by Gary Brehaut of three recent SAR operations.

Sunday opened with a session on new technology and covered GPS, VHF radios and repeaters, Cell phones and PLB’s. The NFO was able to update the meeting with the activities and considerations of the Communications Subcommittee and the progress in the tendering for VHF radios and repeaters.

The topic "What other resources are available" engendered much discussion which ranged over the use of search dogs both Police and civilian, mediums, lost person behaviour analysis and computer programmes.

Standards for all SAR participants was agreed as a necessity and it was noted that both Canterbury including South Canterbury and the West Coast, in May have a one day Field Controllers Standard Workshops.

The NFO gave a paper titled "The Way Ahead" which added to the Five Year Business Plan and sets out goals the Committee wishes to achieve in the next few years. This led to a final wrap up of a very successful weekend. Many thanks to all the attendees for giving up yet another weekend, those who helped put it together, especially Peter Cameron as Regional Secretary who did so much of the administrative work.

Terry Sweetman
Region Five Canterbury/West Coast Regional Representative

The fax number for John Meads and I has changed. While the old one will still get to us, it may take longer and the owners of the previous number may get rather peeved at having to wander around with a bit of paper for us. To keep things ticking along smoothly and not have possibly grumpy neighbours, please change our former fax number to:- 04-474-9417

Do you have an email address and access to the World Wide Web? Do you want to tell the rest of us about your opinions on matters relating to SAR in NZ? If so, then we may have the answer for you!

A NZ Land SAR email news group has been created. The news group allows anybody to join, and then become involved or watch from the side, discussions on (hopefully) a wide range of topics relating to SAR in NZ.

To join the news group, visit the www site of http://onelist.com and then search on "search and rescue". The on line instructions will quickly see you joining the group. Once you have signed up, send a message to sar@onelist.com and "sign in" with a few comments on who you are, and to what level SAR controls your life.

If you have any queries or comments, then give me a call at phone - 06 8774436, fax - 06 8763009, email - rmb@clear.net.nz

Ross Berry
Adviser Hawkes Bay District

NZLSAR and New Zealand SAR in general has a presence on the Internet World Wide Web at http://www.nzlsar.org.nz

Actrix Networks, a Wellington Internet Service Provider, kindly sponsors this site for us. While the page was initially set up by Bohdan Szymanik it remained very static and outdated for some time due to some technical difficulties getting access to the site. In more recent times I have worked with Bohdan and gained access to the site and taken on the job of "WebMaster" or author for the site. Bohdan and Dave Walker from Wellington SAR assist me with the administration of the site.

In the last few months I have made a start, and there is a good base now to showcase SAR in New Zealand on the Web. However any Web site needs on going updates to keep it alive.

In the same way that John requires material for NZLSAR News, which now also features on the Web site, I request input from all SAR groups for material to go up on the Web pages. I would like to see information from all District groups on the pages, and even team groups are welcome to contribute material about their group or their activities.

I also hope to get information and news from the various NZLSAR committees to put onto the pages.

Any suggestions or comments, I can take constructive criticism as well, about the material that is already presented, or possible content would be appreciated. Any sites that you become aware of that are of interest that can be added to the page of links then please let me know. Also of particular interest are photos or other images and logos that relate to SAR.

Material can be sent to me by a number of means (see below) preferably in electronic form, and if someone in your group has the expertise to pre-format in HTML that would be great, but any form will do.

I can be contacted via:

Steve Davis
AREC Communications, Canterbury District

To Graham, Dave, Terry, Roscoe, Terry, Ross and Steve a big thank your for your articles. To those who proof read and check the spelling and grammar, thank you also.

Copy for the August News is most welcome and the close-off date is Friday 24 July. Articles on gear, SAR training or operations are most welcome. Please either mail as neatly hand-written, printed hard copy or on a disc to NZLSAR, PO Box 12081, Thorndon, Wellington. Alternatively email it to tristram.nzlsar@xtra.co.nz . Regards John P Tristram National Field Officer