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.
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