New Zealand Land Search and Rescue (LANDSAR), established in 1994, operates across diverse terrains, from urban areas to remote wilderness.
The Murchison LANDSAR Group has recently revitalised, welcoming 10 new volunteers to their team.
Volunteer and Group Training Officer Jess Gibbs highlights the group's activities.
“We offer two training sessions each month, and our recent weekend training, despite damp weather, was very productive. We covered bushcraft, navigation, equipment essentials, and search skills. It was great to train alongside Motueka and Nelson LANDSAR teams.”
The Murchison group practices through various exercises and scenarios, which can involve collaborating with nearby LandSAR groups and other rescue agencies like the police, coastguard, and Surf Life Saving New Zealand.
Jess, who has been with LANDSAR for 12 years, moved from the UK to New Zealand. She joined LandSAR as a way to develop her outdoor skills and sees volunteering as a way to “pay it forward”, having been inspired by the support she hopes to receive if ever needed.
A memorable rescue for Jess was a nighttime search in the Far North where a father and son had not returned from a walk in the bush.
“It was a miserable night, pouring with rain and wind. We were out all-night searching, all of us soaked through but hopeful. The next day around mid-morning some of the other searchers found them – lost but alive and well, it was such a positive result. The father ended up joining the group after this experience,” she says.
Jess encourages anyone interested in joining LandSAR to have a willingness to learn, a clean police check, and basic fitness. There are also roles for those who wish to support without participating in field searches, such as managing equipment or social media.
For more information or to get involved with Murchison LandSAR, email murchisongto@gmail.com
