From helicopter deployments and floodwater training to night-time search operations and rapidly changing weather, Surf Life Saving New Zealand volunteers were pushed to their limits during one of the organisation's most challenging Search and Rescue exercises of the year.

For four days in September, 30 members of Surf Life Saving New Zealand's Search and Rescue teams, as well as Southern District Police and Queensland Surf Life Saving, immersed themselves in the rugged wilderness of Fiordland National Park as part of Whakatipu Waitai – Fiordland Marine SAREX 2026.

Designed to test capability, adaptability and operational readiness in a remote environment, the exercise brought together volunteers, equipment and technology in a setting where conditions can change quickly and plans rarely unfold exactly as expected.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand was also proud to host Gordon Gillan from bp during the exercise, providing an opportunity to experience first-hand the scale of training required to prepare volunteers for operations in some of New Zealand's most remote and demanding environments.

Based around the Hollyford Valley, Pyke River and Lake Alabaster, participants were deployed deep into Fiordland, with 11 Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRBs), equipment and personnel transported by helicopter into the backcountry before establishing a remote operational base.

What was planned as a demanding training exercise soon became an invaluable lesson in adaptability.
Before the exercise had even begun, deteriorating sea conditions forced organisers to cancel an ambitious open-water transit from Martins Bay to Milford Sound. As the weekend progressed, strong winds, heavy rain and low cloud continued to challenge both crews and organisers, requiring multiple contingency plans to be activated.

Rather than limiting the exercise, the changing conditions created an even more realistic training environment.
"Search and Rescue operations don't happen in perfect conditions," organisers noted. "Being able to adapt, problem-solve and continue operating safely when circumstances change is one of the most important skills SAR volunteers can develop."

Throughout the exercise, participants completed a range of specialist training activities designed to build capability across multiple disciplines. This included GPS navigation exercises, flood safety and swiftwater rescue fundamentals, flood boat operator training, communications exercises and a large-scale night search and rescue simulation.
For many participants, the flood response training was a particular highlight. Working in moving water on the Pyke River, crews learned techniques commonly used during flood emergencies, while developing a greater understanding of risk assessment, rescue methods and teamwork in dynamic environments.

The exercise also demonstrated how transferable Surf Life Saving skills can be when applied beyond the beach environment. Participants quickly adapted their existing boating and rescue experience to river and enclosed-water operations, developing confidence and capability throughout the weekend.

One of the standout moments came during a realistic night search and rescue exercise conducted on Lake Alabaster.
Working in darkness, rain and cold conditions, eight IRB crews were tasked with locating simulated search targets as part of a coordinated response led by an Incident Management Team comprising Police officers, Surf SAR personnel and partner agency representatives.

Using GPS technology, radio communications, digital mapping systems and specialist search equipment, crews carried out shoreline searches, containment operations and open-water search patterns across the lake.
The exercise provided valuable experience operating at night and highlighted the strength of collaboration between partner agencies in a search and rescue environment.

Technology also played a starring role throughout the exercise. Portable radio repeaters, Starlink internet connectivity, Garmin inReach GPS devices, and live GIS tracking systems enabled crews to maintain communication and situational awareness despite operating in one of New Zealand's most isolated locations.

Yet despite the impressive technology on display, the greatest strength of the exercise remained the people behind it.
When worsening weather prevented a planned helicopter extraction from taking place, volunteers were forced to implement an alternative plan that required transporting all boats and equipment around Hidden Falls Rapid before completing a lengthy upriver journey back to the Hollyford Road end.

In what became one of the most memorable moments of the weekend, participants carried 11 IRBs and more than 70 items of equipment across a challenging bush track before continuing their journey by water. The task was never part of the original plan, but it perfectly reflected the resilience, determination and teamwork that underpin Surf Life Saving's Search and Rescue capability.

Importantly, the exercise was completed without injury despite several days of operating in demanding weather conditions and a remote environment. Beyond the training objectives achieved, Fiordland Marine SAREX 2026 reinforced the value of realistic, scenario-based training and the dedication of the volunteers who commit their time to developing lifesaving skills that may one day help save lives.

As participants reflected on the experience, one theme emerged consistently: success in Search and Rescue is rarely about an individual. It is about teamwork, adaptability and a willingness to step forward when challenges arise. Those qualities were evident throughout the exercise, ensuring that Fiordland Marine SAREX 2026 was more than just a training event. It was a powerful demonstration of the professionalism, capability and commitment that Surf Life Saving New Zealand's Search and Rescue volunteers bring to communities across Aotearoa.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand thanks Aotearoa Gaming Trust for its generous support of this training exercise. Contributions like this help ensure our volunteers can train in realistic environments and remain ready to respond when and where they are needed most.