NZSAR Council
The New Zealand Search and Rescue (NZSAR) Council (est. 2003) provides strategic governance to all search and rescue agencies in New Zealand. The Council comprises the Chief Executives (or their designated representatives) of seven Government Departments with roles and responsibilities to the Search and Rescue (SAR) Sector. It is chaired by the CE of the Ministry of Transport.
The Council
The New Zealand Search and Rescue Council provides national level strategic governance, oversight and leadership to the New Zealand Search and Rescue (NZSAR) system, to support the current and future needs.
The Council supports the system to respond to people who are lost, missing or in distress and help the safe return of loved ones to their whānau and friends. They oversee and lead the NZSAR system to support efforts to reduce the number and impact of SAR incidents when they occur.
They do this by:
- Setting a clear vision, mission, goals, and strategic plan for the NZSAR system.
- Maintaining oversight of system needs and capabilities to influence investment decisions to agencies and NGOs.
- Providing strategic advice and highlights risks and issues within the NZSAR system to agencies, NGOs, and government.
- Developing and maintaining the NZSAR operational framework.
- Monitoring and reporting on SAR trends, risks, data, finances, performance, and obligations to:
- assure we have the systems and processes in place to optimise search and rescue outcomes
- understand and improve system performance
- provide information to agencies and NGOs to support them with their activities
- ensure the NZSAR system addresses system risks, is aligned with adjacent systems and incorporates lessons learned.
- Monitoring delivery against New Zealand’s national and international SAR obligations.
- Setting the NZSAR Council work programme and ensuring its effective delivery.
Two sub-committees support the Council: The Strategic Advisory Group and the Operational Leadership Group.
The Organisations
Government departments with roles and responsibilities in the Search and Rescue (SAR) sector. For more information about each department visit their website.
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The Civil Aviation Authority is a Crown entity. They work to make sure everyone involved in New Zealand aviation meets the legal standards set by the Minister of Transport, overseeing aviation safety, operating the Aviation Security Service.
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The Department of Conservation is the government agency charged with conserving New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage. The Department supports New Zealanders to participate safely in recreation on public conservation land – an important part of this is working collaboratively with the Search and Rescue sector.
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Maritime NZ is the national regulatory, compliance and response agency for the safety, security and environmental protection of coastal and inland waterways. Their Rescue Coordination Centre is responsible for Coordination Category II incidents. They also lead the Boating Safety Forum.
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The vision of the Ministry of Transport is to lead transport solutions for New Zealand.
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The mission for the New Zealand Defence Force is "to secure New Zealand against external threat, to protect our sovereign interests, including the Exclusive Economic Zone, and to take action to meet likely contingencies in New Zealand’s area of strategic interest".
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New Zealand Police is the lead agency responsible for reducing crime and enhancing community safety.
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Fire and Emergency New Zealand is New Zealand's unified urban and rural firefighting organisation. It undertakes urban search and rescue.
Council Members
Chair of the NZSAR Council and CE of Transport
Director Maritime New Zealand
Director of Civil Aviation and Chief Executive
Commissioner New Zealand Police
Chief of Defence Force
Director General Department of Conservation
Chief Executive of Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Giuliana Petronelli – Independent Council Member
Documents
Documents relating to the NZSAR Council.
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NZSAR Council Terms of ReferenceDate: 1/04/25 Type: pdf Size: 330 KB
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Cabinet Business Committee Minute of Decision - Nationa…Date: Type: pdf Size: 710 KB
Cabinet Business Committee Minute of Decision - National Search and Rescue Governance
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NZSAR Strategic Plan 2025 -2028Date: 12/09/25 Type: pdf Size: 3 MB
Updated 12 September 2025