Meet the Waihi volunteer responder who discovered that helping people find their way home is the ultimate game of hide and seek
When most people finish their day job at a medical centre reception desk, they head home to relax. But for one Waihi volunteer responder, the end of the workday often marks the beginning of another role entirely—one that might see him searching through dense bush in the middle of the night or coordinating rescue operations in some of New Zealand’s most remote locations.
After 18 years with Land Search and Rescue, this dedicated volunteer responder has seen it all: the relief flooding across a lost tramper’s face when they hear voices calling their name, families reuniting in car parks after hours of anxious waiting, and the incredible teamwork that makes New Zealand’s search and rescue operations possible.
A Family Calling That Became a Passion
The path to Land Search and Rescue began in 2008 through a family connection. “My late father-in-law introduced me to Waihi Land Search and Rescue as his replacement, and I got hooked pretty quick,” he explains. What started as stepping into family shoes quickly became a personal mission that would span nearly two decades.
Outside of his volunteer work, life centres around family and community. Married with three teenage children—two boys and a girl—he and his wife run a medical centre in Waihi, where she works as a GP while he manages reception and keeps things running smoothly. Their home on a small block of land just outside town provides the perfect base for a life split between serving the community during business hours and responding to emergencies whenever the call comes in.
The outdoors has always been a draw, with camping and fishing providing both relaxation and skills that translate perfectly to search and rescue work. “I like the outdoors, camping and fishing mainly,” he says, though these hobbies have taken on new meaning since joining Land Search and Rescue New Zealand.
Building a Network of Service
The commitment to helping others extends beyond Land Search and Rescue. For the past 12 years, he’s also volunteered with Waihi Beach Coastguard as crew, and two and a half years ago helped establish the Thames Coromandel branch of Youth Search and Rescue (YSAR) as an instructor.
“Being a YSAR instructor has helped me use my SAR skills more often,” he notes. Teaching young people search and rescue techniques creates a pipeline of future volunteers while keeping his own skills sharp between callouts.
This multi-faceted approach to volunteer service demonstrates how the skills and passion for helping others can multiply across different emergency services, creating a stronger overall safety network for the community.
Adult Hide and Seek with Life-Changing Stakes
When asked what drew him to continue volunteering year after year, his answer reveals both the serious purpose and the fundamental human appeal of search and rescue work: “I guess it’s my way of giving back to our community, helping people. And I liked playing hide and seek as a kid—Land Search and Rescue is kind of like an adults version.”
But this adult version of hide and seek carries profound responsibility. Every search involves real people in genuine distress, families waiting anxiously for news, and communities pulling together in times of crisis.
“It’s always rewarding to return someone to their loved ones,” he reflects. “You have to remember it’s not just the missing or injured—there are loved ones waiting at home or in a car park in the dark for their family members to return home. Finding a missing person is a pretty good feeling, watching them reunite with family is next level. Makes it all worthwhile.”
Eighteen Years of Memorable Moments
With nearly two decades of service, picking standout moments becomes challenging—not because there are too few, but because there are too many. “So many to pick from,” he says when asked about memorable experiences. “Seeing the relief on the faces of the lost when found, watching families reunite, going to some amazing locations and the untouched scenery NZ has to offer, working with other rescue services for the same outcome, trainings and scenarios.”
Rather than one defining moment, it’s been the accumulation of experiences that has shaped his perspective: “18 years in Waihi Land Search and Rescue has been a memorable experience so it’s pretty hard to pick one.”
The variety keeps the role engaging—from technical rescues requiring specialised equipment to searches for vulnerable community members who have wandered from care facilities, from coordinating with helicopters and other emergency services to training scenarios that prepare teams for every conceivable situation.
More Than Mountain Climbers and Bushmen
One of the biggest misconceptions about Land Search and Rescue is that volunteer responders need to be outdoor athletes or survival experts. This veteran volunteer is quick to dispel that myth when encouraging others to consider joining.
“Give it a go, there are lots of roles in Land Search and Rescue. You don’t need to be a mountain climber or a bushman,” he emphasises. “Things like transporting teams, containment, IMT [Incident Management Team] and many other roles may suit.”
His advice to potential volunteer responders is practical and encouraging: “Go meet your local Land Search and Rescue New Zealand group, you might be surprised with what skills you have that can help in SAR.”
The diversity of skills needed means there’s likely a place for anyone willing to help—from those comfortable with technology and communications to people skilled in logistics, from those who enjoy physical challenges to those better suited to coordination and support roles.
The Human Side of Emergency Response
Beyond the technical aspects of search and rescue, what strikes this volunteer responder most is the human element. “Apart from a lot of late rainy nights bushbashing around in the dark, I get to work with some amazing passionate and dedicated people all volunteering to help strangers. I’m pretty lucky to be part of a supportive group, and an organisation.”
The camaraderie built through shared purpose and challenging experiences creates bonds that extend far beyond individual callouts. When you’re searching through difficult terrain in poor weather conditions, relying on your teammates isn’t just about operational success—it’s about everyone going home safely.
Always Ready, Always There
The importance of Land Search and Rescue New Zealand in the community goes beyond the dramatic mountain rescues that make headlines. As this volunteer responder explains, “Knowing there are people out there trained and ready to respond anytime, anywhere to the lost, missing or injured is important to any community.”
The breadth of potential callouts reflects the comprehensive nature of the service: “Someone could be missing in the community from a retirement facility or a young child that has walked off, an injured tramper or a lost school group. Knowing someone will come.”
This assurance—that someone will come—represents the fundamental promise that Land Search and Rescue makes to communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Whether it’s 2 AM on a stormy night or a pleasant Sunday afternoon, whether the missing person is an experienced adventurer who’s had an accident or a vulnerable community member who needs help, trained volunteer responders are ready to respond.
A Legacy of Service
Eighteen years of dedication represents more than just personal commitment—it’s a testament to the importance of the work and the satisfaction that comes from serving others. From that first introduction through his father-in-law to becoming a mentor for young people through YSAR, this volunteer responder embodies the spirit that makes Land Search and Rescue possible.
His story reminds us that behind every successful search and rescue operation are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They balance family life, careers, and other commitments while remaining ready to drop everything when someone needs help. They train regularly, maintain equipment, and continually develop skills they hope they’ll never need to use.
The work continues, one search at a time, one family reunited, one person brought safely home. Because in the end, someone will always come.
Land Search and Rescue New Zealand Rapa Taiwhenua relies on volunteer responders like this to provide search and rescue services across the country. If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer responder or supporting our vital work, visit landsar.org.nz to find your local group or make a donation today.
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