Search and rescue: What it takes to bring someone home

The search for missing tramper Darren Myers was one of the largest in recent history. Piers Fuller looks at what it takes to mount a search of that magnitude.

The shuddering hum of big Air Force NH90 helicopters was a pervasive sound in the Wairarapa sky in early June.

These big birds performed a critical task in getting teams into the rugged Tararua Range and without them the search for missing tramper Darren Myers would have been much less effective.

Wairarapa Land SAR chairman Murray Johnston was one of the advisors of the civilian side of the search, bringing with him a vast amount of experience from his 20 years as a police controller.

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He said he often gets people questioning him about the cost to the taxpayer to provide search and rescue services, but he said it has to be seen in perspective.

"They say to me 'he got himself in there, why don't you leave him there?', but I reply to them, 'if someone broke their neck on a rugby field, would you leave them there?'," Johnston said.

Last year the New Zealand Defence Force flew more than 273 hours on 21 search and rescue (SAR) operations, which was almost double the 138 hours flown on the 12 events the previous year.

It was a local helicopter that found Myers' body on day 11 of the search, again taxpayer funded out of the police's operational budget.

A common theme among searchers and observers on the ground at the Masterton SAR base was: if it was one of their loved ones out there, they would want the same effort being put in to find them.

Ultimately, it was the police who were in charge, but it was a team of expert advisors from both Land SAR and police who were planning and making the tough calls.

The contribution of volunteer time on the Myers search was also massive. Wairarapa Land SAR calculated their personnel collectively spent 4100 hours dedicated to the operation.

Police resources were not unlimited, the controllers had to apply each day for helicopter time and use it judiciously.

Senior Sergeant Pete Theobald said police had a statutory obligation to provide SAR services and were funded to do so.

Police's prime objective in any SAR operation was always the recovery of those who were missing, along with ensuring the safety of all of those involved in the search.

"Cost is never a factor over the safety and welfare of those needing assistance when determining the appropriate course of action or which resources to use.

"While there is normally some monetary cost associated with a SAR operation, this is factored into and funded from within normal police operating budgets, so there is never any financial 'charge' imposed on anyone who is in distress and who needs our help," Theobald said.

Johnston said it was an enormous help having the large Air Force helicopters being able to airlift up to eight people in at a time in the search for Myers.

The main area of interest in this case was right in the middle of the northern Tararua Range and to have searchers walk in was not an option.

"They would've been knackered before they were able to do anything."

The only modern search in the lower North island that compared in scale was the hunt for missing Featherston girl Coral Burrows in 2003, whom it turned out had been murdered by her mother's boyfriend Steven Williams.

When someone goes missing it was normally police that were the first to be informed. They usually become the lead agency unless it was an incident involving an aircraft or a beacon activation, Johnston said.

Police bring on board Land SAR advisors and the situation is methodically assessed to decide the urgency required. The local SAR base was then opened and soon planners descended to start formulating a plan and contacting searchers.

Weather played a huge part in the length of the Myers search.

A New Zealand Defence Force spokeswoman said it had personnel and a number of assets on standby 24/7 to support search and rescue (SAR) operations if requested.

The Air Force would only use the NH90 helicopters after police had exhausted civilian options or where its specialist military capabilities were more appropriate.

More than 34 hours were flown by multiple NH90 helicopters to help search for Myers.

There were also training benefits for the NZDF being involved in these operations

"Supporting SAR operations enables Royal New Zealand Air Force air crews to enhance their skills while undertaking real missions. For No.3 helicopter squadron in particular, annual readiness training activities are conducted to allow them to prepare for SAR missions," the spokeswoman said.

The NZDF is one of the primary agencies for the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand and the Fiji Maritime Surveillance Rescue Coordination Centre.

Since January 2019, it has flown 116 hours on nine SAR missions.

The Air Force undertakes an annual mountain-flying exercise held in the Southern Alps which ensures that all crews are qualified to conduct tasks in environments where land SAR may commonly occur. It has personnel in camps and bases across the country who can be deployed to assist police's search operations.

One Royal New Zealand Navy vessel, one P-3K2 Orion surveillance aircraft and one NH90 medium utility helicopter are also on standby to assist these operations.

What does the taxpayer think?

"I'm comfortable with my taxpayer dollar going toward this kind of mission. It is the price you pay for living in a civilised society. In NZ, we look after and out for each other."  - Adam Philps,  Masterton.

"I have no issue using taxes to pay. But I do think that people who are ill-prepared should pay some fees/penalty back if they were found to be negligent. Obviously it won't be the full cost of the search, but an infringement fee might make people think twice/be more prepared. - Lori Marevich, Nelson

"People should be encouraged to get out and about and be adventurous. Maybe they should take out a rescue insurance policy. Why should the ones who never get out in the great outdoors have to pay. User pays or taxpayer covers the costs." - Robert Mackenzie, Masterton

"As taxpayers there are a lot worse things we are paying for than saving people's lives." -  Floss Van Saarloos, Wellington

The Myers search: By the numbers

Days of active searching: 11

Number of volunteer hours: 4100

Search taskings into the mountains: 75

Air Force helicopter hours: 34

Number of people involved in the search: 110-115

Police cost: not yet assessed

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