NZ had 450+ rescue beacon alerts in 2016


By Jonathan Nally
Thursday, 19 January, 2017

NZ had 450+ rescue beacon alerts in 2016

New Zealand rescue authorities responded to more than 450 rescue beacon alerts in 2016.

This includes incidents in the air, on land, and on the seas and waterways.

According to RCCNZ Manager Mike Hill, the number and range of beacon users is growing.

“It is not just boaties, but also more trampers, mountain bikers, hunters, climbers and people working in isolated areas, who are realising a beacon may save their life,” said Hill.

The number of beacons registered in the RCCNZ database grew by more than 11,000 in 2016 to 62,241.

“We coordinate about 850 search and rescue incidents each year, rescuing people and saving lives,” Hill said. “Many responses begin with a distress beacon being activated.”

New Zealand’s SAR region stretches from the mid-Tasman Sea, halfway to Chile, and from the South Pole almost to the Equator.

“To cover such a huge area our search and rescue ‘team’ must be more than only our staff here at the RCCNZ,” said Hill.

“It includes police and other emergency services, volunteers such as Coastguard and LandSAR, the New Zealand Defence Force, and also the people, ships and aircraft from any country in the world who happen to be in our region — whether they need our help or if they are the ones we will use for search and rescue.”

RCCNZ also operates the 24/7 Maritime Radio Service, which includes monitoring of VHF channel 16, the international channel for maritime distress calls.

Beacons can be registered on the special Beacons.org.nz website.

Image courtesy Beacons.org.nz

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook

Related News

New tech to keep NSW communities connected after disasters

The NSW Government is rolling out a $5 million fleet of new technologies to provide backup...

Govt to strength Triple Zero access in wake of Optus outage

Minister for Communications Michelle Rowland has announced a set of changes to improve industry...

Mobile app helps WA Police support family violence victims

The Western Australia Police Force is helping its frontline police officers provide better...


  • All content Copyright © 2024 Westwick-Farrow Pty Ltd