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- The History of Search And Rescue in Otago - Part 1
- The history of Search and Rescue in Otago 6: Cliff rescue and the changes in Dunedin LandSAR
- The history of Search and Rescue in Otago 3 : Mt Aspiring, Bevan col and Sergeant Sam Cleland
- The History of Search and Rescue in Otago 2: Aspiring Memories 1
- The history of Search and Rescue in Otago part 4: Police and Advisors
- The History of Search and Rescue in Otago 5 : Radios and Pigeon Carriers
- Dunedin LandSAR (Search and Rescue)
- New Zealand National Mountain Safety Council
- New Zealand Land Search and Rescue
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Dunedin Police SAR Squad (Search and Rescue)
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About this Group
The first search and rescue missions undertaken in Otago were for newly arrived immigrants attempting to make their way to the central Otago Goldfields.
An early example in 1863 saw the Otago constabulary called upon during a winter blizzard to rescue 50 miners stranded in the snow on the Hills above Alexandra
In May 2016 Police were again called upon to rescue 38 people stuck in the 4wd vehicles in the same area.
Many advancements have occurred in search and rescue techniques in the 153 years between those two events
In the early days, drownings during river crossing were a common occurrence, it usually took several days before police were notified and the response was usually for a body recovery on horse back.
In the 1930’s Police were concerned about their ability to respond to the increasing number of mountaineering deaths being reported to them, which lead to the first formal search and rescue procedures being written by the Police commissioner in 1932.
1935 saw the Federated mountain clubs of New Zealand and NZ Police forming a community partnership that still exists today. Civilian SAR volunteers and Police worked together to locate and rescue people in the outdoors.
In 1950 further enhancements were made to SAR procedures following the formation of a National search and rescue organisation.
1966 saw the introduction of specialist Police SAR squads around the country with the purpose of upgrading the capability and operating standards of Police in the SAR role.
By 1990 Police were conducting 900 SAR operations each year.
The photographs in this section show some of the Training exercises that the Dunedin Police SAR squad members and volunteers undertook from 1980
S/Sgt Brian BENN
Officer in Charge
Southern Search and Rescue
Geo Location[1]
Geo Location[1] Relates to
SubjectSearch and RescuePoliceAudioThe History of Search And Rescue in Otago - Part 1The history of Search and Rescue in Otago 6: Cliff rescue and the changes in Dunedin LandSARThe history of Search and Rescue in Otago 3 : Mt Aspiring, Bevan col and Sergeant Sam Cleland The History of Search and Rescue in Otago 2: Aspiring Memories 1The history of Search and Rescue in Otago 3 : Mt Aspiring, Bevan col and Sergeant Sam Cleland The history of Search and Rescue in Otago part 4: Police and AdvisorsThe History of Search and Rescue in Otago 5 : Radios and Pigeon CarriersEventWinter SAREX on the Old Man RangeManuscriptHistory of Land Search and Rescue in New ZealandOrganisationDunedin LandSAR (Search and Rescue)New Zealand National Mountain Safety CouncilNew Zealand Land Search and Rescue PeopleBrian BennPeter WoodsStoriesBrian Benn's newspaper articles that lined the Dunedin LandSAR HQ VideoBlue Duck operation, Dart Valley , 1989 uneditedBlue Duck operation, Dart Valley 1989Dunedin Police SAR team 4WD trainingHang glider Crash - Dunedin Police LandSAR and Cliff Rescue Squad
PoliceAudioThe History of Search And Rescue in Otago - Part 1The history of Search and Rescue in Otago 6: Cliff rescue and the changes in Dunedin LandSARThe history of Search and Rescue in Otago 3 : Mt Aspiring, Bevan col and Sergeant Sam Cleland The History of Search and Rescue in Otago 2: Aspiring Memories 1The history of Search and Rescue in Otago 3 : Mt Aspiring, Bevan col and Sergeant Sam Cleland The history of Search and Rescue in Otago part 4: Police and AdvisorsThe History of Search and Rescue in Otago 5 : Radios and Pigeon CarriersEventWinter SAREX on the Old Man RangeManuscriptHistory of Land Search and Rescue in New ZealandOrganisationDunedin LandSAR (Search and Rescue)New Zealand National Mountain Safety CouncilNew Zealand Land Search and Rescue PeopleBrian BennPeter WoodsStoriesBrian Benn's newspaper articles that lined the Dunedin LandSAR HQ VideoBlue Duck operation, Dart Valley , 1989 uneditedBlue Duck operation, Dart Valley 1989Dunedin Police SAR team 4WD trainingHang glider Crash - Dunedin Police LandSAR and Cliff Rescue SquadContributors
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Dunedin Public Libraries (13th Jul 2026). Dunedin Police SAR Squad (Search and Rescue). In Website Dunedin Public Libraries. Retrieved 3rd Aug 2026 05:52, from https://dunedin.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/200114