Volunteer | Tauranga Land Search And Rescue

Become a volunteer

We operate under the umbrella of Land Search & Rescue New Zealand (LSAR) and work under the immediate control of the New Zealand Police when a search is underway. Tauranga LandSAR is a volunteer organisation. We require:

Operational Field Members to participate in working the search environment.
Incident Management Team members to participate in the planning, researching and logistics of the search.
Support team members to provide administrative, information technology and technical support to assist the search teams and search planners.

Our local searches range from missing dementia sufferers or children who have wandered off in an urban area to lost hunters or trampers in the bush and locating despondents. We can also be asked to assist Tauranga Coastguard and Surf Lifesaving in conducting shoreline searches of beaches, lakes and rivers. In most cases, searches are resolved within 12 hours and often much sooner, but we do get the occasional longer (overnight/multi-day) search as well. Searches take place in all kinds of weather and can occur at any time of the day or night. We would typically have between 18 and 24 callouts per year of which some may be to assist other SAR groups in multi-day searches.

What's required?

A potential field team volunteer shouldhave the appropriate backcountry skills, knowledge and experience to operatesafely in a search and rescue environment, along with a commitment to learning. We can train you from there. All LandSAR volunteers undergo training to attain and maintain role competency to ensure LandSAR groups possess the range of professional skills, local knowledge of terrain and conditions, and experience for search and rescue incidents in their locality and region.

To be useful on a typical bush SAR operation, you need to be fit enough to keep moving in rough country for 8 hours at a time. Stamina rather than speed is a prerequisite.
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Volunteers must provide food, clothing and equipment for their own personal needs. In addition to the usual outdoor clothing, footwear, storm gear, glovesand headwear, LandSAR volunteers should pack enough food/drink for at least 24hours. Volunteers should also be prepared to stay out overnight and are expected to liaise with fellow team members about tents/flys/bivvy bags.

A NZ Police security clearance check is required for all applications.

Tauranga LandSAR members are expected to:

Attend regular (monthly) local training sessions, which can be a couple of hours in the evening, a day session on a weekend and the occasional Saturday/Sunday overnighter.
Successfully complete core competency national training courses (Conducted either locally or within the region. Members do not become operational until this is completed).
Participate in at least one full-scale search simulation exercise each year.
Generally be available for searches at short notice (many employers are supportive of staff being released for searches as part of their community support, but we suggest you check with your employer before applying).

A commitment to being involved is essential.

What next?

If you are interested in applying for aTauranga LandSAR membership please complete the following steps:

Click on the “apply now” link at the bottom of the page and read the Land Search and Rescue Code of Conduct section of the form. This applies for all roles within Tauranga LandSAR. Field team member applications must also read the Search Team Member Commitments section.
If you are willing and able to meet all the requirements, commitments and abide by the code of conduct please fill in the application form and email to [email protected]

Prior to applications being processed a senior member will meet with you to learn a bit more about you, your skills, and to answer any questions. Prospective members will then be invited to participate in a local overnight training to demonstrate their bushcraft and navigation skills. This will help you decide if Tauranga LandSAR is for you and to give us an opportunity to assess your suitability as a volunteer.

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