The Te Aroha Paeroa Search and Rescue team have been recognised for a March 2024 operation which saw them assist a hunter who had suffered a severe leg fracture after a fall.
Made up of 21 volunteers, the local search and rescue squad – dubbed TAPSAR – was awarded the supreme award for outstanding operation at the annual New Zealand Search and Rescue Awards.
Senior operational member Jeremy Gamble told The Profile he was proud of his team’s efforts during the rescue of the hunter, who had fallen on a bush trail off the Tuahu Track, south of Te Aroha.
The challenging terrain had prevented the Westpac Rescue Helicopter from conducting an aerial extraction, so the TAPSAR team leveraged their local connections and secured access to an adjacent private property, enabling quicker access to the patient.
With a St John Ambulance officer in their ranks, pain relief was able to be administered.
“All searches are unique and present slightly different risks and challenges,” Jeremy said. “In this instance, we were fast approaching the end of the day and loss of light, so we needed to be able to quickly provide a safe helicopter winch site or perform a stretcher carry on steep, rocky terrain.”
Established in 1994, Land Search and Rescue New Zealand is a dedicated incorporated society providing specialist search and rescue services across diverse environments, including suburban, urban, wilderness, and rural areas.
TAPSAR covers much of the Kaimais, from Paeroa to Matamata, and are often working even beyond that boundary.
Jeremy has been training with LandSAR since its inception, and became a field member in 1995.
“My father was involved with the team, and we have always loved getting into the bush. I did head away for a bit with travel and working overseas, but when we returned, I rejoined in 2007.”
Jeremy said unresolved operations were the hardest thing about the work.
“I can’t think of how hard it must be on a family ‘not knowing’,” he said. “Conversely, getting someone home safe is the best. When you make that first contact with a lost party and the relief washes over their face, it’s a pretty cool moment.
“With the Kaimais on our doorstep, lost or injured trampers or hunters are the most common occurrence. However, we do get a variety of searches for people in different personal situations.”
TAPSAR’s volunteers come from all walks of life and live all over the district, including Paeroa, Morrinsville, Te Aroha, Matamata, and even Hamilton.
Jeremy also said it was important to commend employers of search and rescue volunteers, as they wouldn’t be able to get out into the field without their support.
DETAILS: For more info or to volunteer, email tearoha.paeroasar@gmail.com or find the team on Facebook.
BY KELLEY TANTAU
