Safer Walking & WanderSearch

The New Zealand Search and Rescue (NZSAR) Council with key stakeholders have developed the Safer Walking Partnership Framework. 

This Framework has been formed over the past decade in response to people with cognitive impairments who go missing while out walking with potentially very poor outcomes.

Land Search and Rescue liaises with, and supports Land Search and Rescue groups and other stakeholders with the implementation of the Framework.  An important component of the Framework is reduction of going missing incidents. The Safer Walking website identifies a wide range of preventative and supporting strategies for people at risk of going missing. The Safer Walking Profile is a downloadable form that all at risk people should complete. The form contains vital information about the person at risk which can be given to the police should the person ever go missing.

One of the technologies that fit into the Framework is known as WanderSearch. This is made up of a radio frequency (RF) device that people at risk wear.  If the person goes missing Police and Land Search and Rescue volunteers can use search equipment to assist them to locate the missing person. The national WanderSearch website provides information about WanderSearch and local contact emails in Find Us. WanderSearch should only be considered for people at risk where other technologies are not suitable