New Zealand Land Search & Rescue Inc. (LandSAR) is the national volunteer organisation within New Zealand providing land  search & rescue services to the Police and public of New Zealand.
The LandSAR MISSION
- providing search and rescue support for the lost, missing and injured
New Zealand Land Search & Rescue Incorporated, was established as an incorporated society in 1994. Our history as a volunteer organisation goes back to the 1930s.
The organisation’s current Constitution was approved by members at the 2009 Annual General Meeting, following extensive consultation with the membership throughout the country. The previous business review established a Board of independent and elected Directors, and a full time Chief Executive and staff, to replace the original National Committee. The Board has a Strategic Plan and the National Organisation has consulted widely in the preparation of its Business Plans to enable the carrying out of the Stratgic Plan.
Under the new 2009 Constitution, Associate Members of LandSAR are;
· The New Zealand Search and Rescue Council (NZSAR)
· New Zealand Police
· Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand (RCCNZ)
· Search And Rescue Institute of New Zealand (SARINZ)
· Department of Conservation (DoC)
· The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council Incorporated (MSC)
· The New Zealand Speleological Society Incorporated (NZSS)
· The Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand Incorporated (FMC)
· Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC)
The power to appoint elected directors at the AGM is vested in the membership, which is the organisation’s stakeholding body, and appointed directors are selected by the Board and ratified at the AGM.
The SAR Advisory Group provides expert advice to the Chief Executive and Board.
LandSAR has over 3,000 trained search and rescue volunteers, who are members of nearly 60 Land Search & Rescue groups, organised into seven Regions, covering the length and breadth of New Zealand; and two national specialist groups – LandSAR Search Dogs and LandSAR Caving. Other specialist groups such as Alpine Cliff Rescue and Whitewater Search & Rescue operate on a local level where there is a requirement for these specialist skills.
LandSAR operates in suburban/urban and wilderness/rural Search & Rescue operations, underground Search & Rescue operations in caves or other natural underground areas, shoreline Search & Rescue operations linked to marine incidents, and other Search & Rescue operations as agreed with NZ Police. LandSAR’s role in Search & Rescue is formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding with NZ Police.
To ensure health and safety when anyone goes missing, we provide our volunteers expert training and assistance to ensure their operational capability.
So that all can enjoy the outdoors we work with the Mountain Safety Council to educate everyone about safe practice in outdoor adventure.
If you wish to join LandSAR as a volunteer, be a business partner or sponsor, contribute to our mission as a financial supporter, or simply know more about us, please contact us. |