Latest news with #LandSearchAndRescue
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
King's Birthday Honours: Ron Ealam recognised for work training search and rescue dogs
Photo: LandSAR There are many ways to serve a community, and Ron Ealam, from Oxford in Canterbury has been doing it, for the last few decades at least, with trusty dogs at his side. On Monday, Ealam was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his work with Land Search and Rescue over more than 50 years. For half of that he has been working with rescue dogs - developing the official search dogs training programme and becoming a national trainer and assessor. "I just quite enjoy being out there, and to actually train a dog up to achieve what we've achieved is just quite amazing," he told RNZ. He brought with him Skyla, a border collie beardie cross - one of those he has trained over the years. "They're actually a light, a very light dog that can work pretty good hours and just stop and have a rest and keep going again, and they're just full of energy." Rescue dogs were trained to recognise human scent, Ealam said. "We train them initially right from when they were a pup to indicate and follow human scent, which are skin follicles that fall off your body." And not every dog has a nose for it, he said. "It's just a matter of finding a dog that has got a good nose, and we developed that and enhance their natural ability… they're pretty amazing... once they pick up a scent, they lock onto it and they'll just stay on it." One of his most memorable rescues was an early one at Lake Kaniere in the South Island. "We got a call at 11 o'clock at night for a missing multi-sport runner at Methven, and we drove through the night and we got to Methven about six o'clock in the morning and they put us in a helicopter and took us up onto the tops. "And we searched down for probably four to six hours, and then my dog indicated on the footprint that went down a creek, and we followed the scent down to the last party and she was there - she was very cold. "And I can always remember my dog sort of cuddled up to her." The woman was airlifted out by helicopter.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Ron Ealam: Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Ron Ealam, from Oxford in Canterbury has received the New Zealand Order of Merit for his work with Land Search and Rescue, for more than 50 years! And for half of that he's been working with rescue dogs - developing the official search dogs training programme and he's become a national trainer and assessor. Photo: LandSAR
RNZ News
18-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Teens rescued after one swept away crossing river in Tararua Forest Park
The Ngatiawa River was packing power on Sunday. Photo: Supplied / NZ police Packing a personal locator beacon paid off for two teenagers, when one was swept down a river north of Wellington on Sunday. The two 15-year-olds were returning from an overnight hike to Kapakapanui Hut in the Tararua Forest Park, when they fell into trouble trying to cross the Ngatiawa River. Constable Alex McCormack said the river was rising from heavy rain, and the flow swept one of the boys off his feet and carried him downstream. "His friend made the right choice not to go in after him. The boys thought it was crossable, but underestimated the power the water was packing." The teen in the water managed to reach safety, but on the opposite riverbank. He stayed where he was and activated the locator beacon, while the other boy walked to the end of the track to await police and family members. "The search and rescue team were able to assist the second teen out, and both of them were fine - just a little cold and wet. "The fact they're okay is a real relief, given what the river was looking like." Some of the Land Search and Rescue volunteers who helped locate the two boys. Photo: Supplied / NZ police Constable McCormack said the rescue showed the value of taking a locator beacon and studying the weather forecast. "Both these guys did lots of things right, but it shows how quickly the conditions can change." Constable McCormack said it was not safe to risk crossing a flooded or fast-rising river. "Despite all that, they packed a locator beacon and used it when they needed to. "Importantly, the one with the beacon stayed put after activating it, so we were able to find them without any trouble." Constable McCormack said the rescue effort included Land Search and Rescue volunteers, the Rescue Coordination Centre and local landowners, who provided advice and allowed the rescue team access through their land. "There are a lot of people willing to drop everything to help a stranger and we couldn't do it without them," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11-05-2025
- RNZ News
Search resumes for missing tramper in Milford Sound
The search for Eli Sweeting was initially called off, due to bad weather. Photo: 123rf Dozens of police and volunteers are continuing the search for a British man, who has been missing for a week in Milford Sound. Eli Sweeting failed to return from a tramping day trip to climb Mitre Peak last Sunday. The search was called off on Thursday, due to bad weather, but resumed a day later. A Land Search and Rescue team stayed near the mountain overnight, so it could restart the search early this morning. About 40 people, including police and volunteers, were involved in today's search efforts. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
10-05-2025
- RNZ News
Body found in search for man missing from Wairarapa
Search teams have been searching for John Rafferty, who was last seen in Wairarapa, but authorities have announced they have found a body. Photo: NZ Police A body has been found in the search for 73-year-old John Rafferty, who went missing in Masterton on 4 May . A Land Search and Rescue team found the body on Saturday and it is believed to be the missing man, police said in a statement. Rafferty was last seen at Masterton Railway Station around midday on Sunday 4 May, and Land Search and Rescue were brought in to help with the search from Tuesday 6 May. Sergeant Anthony Matheson said it was not the outcome police were hoping for, but he wanted to thank the community "for all their assistance, and the dedication of the search crews who have worked so hard over the past week". The death was referred to the coroner. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
