Search & Rescue NZ

Each year, thousands of people need to be rescued in New Zealand’s unforgiving outdoors. Some searches are successful, some not. But behind each is an incredible story of courage.

Contains strong language and sensitive themes

Hosted by Paul Roy

On air:

Sundays at 7am on RNZ National

Search and Rescue

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The Toll

Episode 9
The public can often view rescuers as heroes who are just doing a job. But years of attending rescues, accidents, or the tragic retrieval of bodies, can have a devasting effect on both volunteers or emergency service workers.
Contains some strong language and sensitive themes
Bluey Green border around a dark cloudy image

A Step Too Far

Episode 8
Experienced canyoners Dave Vass and Annette Phillips were out doing the ultimate outdoor activity when adventure turned into accident in a little explored canyon, leaving them with difficult decisions to make.
Contains some strong language and sensitive themes
Bluey Green border around a photo of a rescuer abseiling down a rocky edge into dark swirling cloud.

Accidents Do Happen

Episode 7
The increase of social media has seen many walkers, often overseas visitors, attracted to places beyond their experience or ability. Mount Brewster in Mount Aspiring National Park now has up to ten rescues a year as hundreds flock there to take a selfie, but sometimes even this poses a risk.
Contains some strong language and sensitive themes
Bluey Green border around a photo of snowy peak with peach coloured sky. Two climbers stand admiring the peak - we see them from behind and they are small in the image.

With No Regrets

Episode 6
After five days trapped in the "Middle Peak Hotel" crevasse on the summit ridge of Aoraki Mount Cook, climbers Phil Doole and Mark Inglis were in big trouble – both having frostbite to their feet. By day 15 fears were held for their lives, until a short break in the weather and the heroic efforts of pilot Ron Small and rescuer Don Bogie.
Contains some strong language and sensitive themes
Bluey Green border around a photo of tussock, rocky terrain with some snow and screen slopes. In the foreground 4 people in fluro vests and tramping gear carry a bright orange plastic stretcher filled with more packs etc heading away from the camera further into the terrain. Ahead of them we can see a further two other people wearing tramping packs and tramping gear.

Middle Peak Hotel

Episode 5
In November 1982, two climbers Phil Doole and Mark Inglis were trapped on the summit ridge of Aoraki Mount Cook at over 3000 metres. Taking shelter in a sparse crevasse near the summit, storms and high winds thwarted any rescue attempts when the pair were declared missing after five days.
Contains some strong language and sensitive themes
Bluey Green border around a photo of a helicopter with 2 people hanging below. from a long tether The camera angle is on the ground looking straight up - one person (in a bright orange jacket) appears to be supporting the other. We also have allow angle view of someone on the ground watching the ascent they have a bright orange jacket, helmet and tramping pack. We can see part of a cliff looming off to the left hand side.

The Way It Was

Episode 4
A typical rescue today is aided by GPS, personal location beacons, agile helicopters and LandSAR rescuers. This is in stark contrast to the 1960s, where rescuers usually came from tramping clubs, they provided their own gear, and could be out in the field for days, it was all very "number 8 wire".
Contains strong language and sensitive themes
Bluey Green border around a black and white photo showing a group of at least 8 people (seem to be all men) carrying an improvised stretcher (lashed together wood and canvas) over an obstacle beside a fast flowing river, there seems to be a landslip on the other side of the river. The photo appears to be from the 1960s.

Troglodytes

Episode 3
At the centre of the largest and most complex cave rescues ever attempted was Dr Michael Brewer. In 2007, the local doctor was trapped and injured two kilometres underground in a little explored cave system in the Takaka Hills.
Contains some strong language and sensitive themes
Bluey Green border around a photo takin within a cave. There are 4 rescuers visible at the top of a ledge over a cliff. They are hauling up a stretcher with extra rope supports etc. The stretcher has the person being rescued they are wrapped up and have some protection. The stretcher is vertical as the cliff within the cave is incredibly steep.

A Sense of Duty

Episode 2
In the winter of 1966, four climbers went to climb the Otira Face of Mount Rolleston in Arthurs Pass National Park and never returned. The search and rescue operation was one of the last large scale call outs, all on foot that saw up to a hundred volunteers navigating harsh conditions to find them.
Contains some strong language and sensitive themes
Bluey Green border around a black and white photo of Mt Rolleston. It is a tall mountain covered in snow.

Between Heaven and Earth

Episode 1
Cascade Saddle in Mount Aspiring National Park is a popular alpine crossing, but the difficulty of the trek and the hazards are often underestimated by inexperienced trampers on this long and demanding route. For two overseas tourists, an overnight adventure to the park goes horribly wrong.
Contains strong language and sensitive themes
Bluey Green border around a photo taken high up in the mountains. Two people are in the foreground one a flat piece of ground. They are sitting with their tramping packs and appear to be sitting at a trig or other marker. Far below in the valley there is a glacier.

Introducing: Search & Rescue NZ

Trailer
Head to the hills, scour the bush, and dive deep into the caves with a series that takes you behind the scenes of the rescues in New Zealand’s unforgiving outdoors. Go out with the volunteers who put themselves on the line to rescue complete strangers. Host Paul Roy looks at the evolution of rescues from the do-it-yourself operations of the 1960s to today's highly managed efforts. They all have one thing in common – something went wrong and someone needed help.
Illustration of a mountain with dark cloud and fog starting to descend. Illustration is in a vintage poster style. The Text reads Search and Rescue NZ and features crossed ice picks.

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