The sequence of events...

Search and Rescue operations will normally begin within a few hours of you being reported missing. Initial searching will concentrate on checking with family or friends and people that may have met you in the back country. Then car parks, shelters and tracks end will be checked. If these efforts do not locate you, then normally an air search and/or fast moving ground search teams with trackers will begin to look for signs of you in the field. If the search continues without sucess, more gound teams will be brought in to help. Specialists such as kayakers, cavers, search dog handlers, police or navy divers and alpine rescue teams may also be required to search difficult to access places within the search area. If you left detailed intentions, if you are in an obvious place and if you have kept to your planned route, it is likely you will be found during the first 1-2 days of the search. If the weather is bad or you are in an unlikely place, it may take longer to locate you. It is important to stay positive, to look after your basic needs (water, shelter and food) and to do everything you can to make your location obvious. If a week of fine weather has passed and you have not seen low flying helicopters or any other signs of a search, it is likely that either no one knows you are missing, or you are outside the search area. Only if you are absolutely certain after some time that there is no search, should you consider attempting to find your own way out.

Helicopters revolutionised rescue in the 1950's and 60's (left). Today, commercial operators, regional Rescue Helicopters and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) regularly undertake SAR operations (right).