From mountains to canyons, Wānaka Search and Rescue (SAR) had a busy year in 2025.

The all-volunteer group remains one of the busiest backcountry SAR units in the country, responding to 29 call-outs on behalf of NZ Police and the NZ Rescue Coordination Centre. 

"If you're lost, missing or injured, we'll come and find you," Wānaka SAR chair Raewyn Calhaem said.

"That's what we do. 

“The majority of our jobs have happy endings but some searches do result in tragic outcomes and we need to be mentally prepared for that as well.” 

The 29 SAR operations in 2025 covered nearly every form of outdoor pursuit, from mountaineering to paragliding, canyoning to wind surfing - all over the Mt Aspiring National Park and from the Wānaka lakes area to South Westland, Raewyn said

One such search, in March last year, was for young Argentinian tourist Hector Gaston Artigau, who fell into a canyon near the Rob Roy Track. 

Wānaka SAR swiftwater/canyon team leader Roy Bailey said it was “unquestionably the most difficult operation we have undertaken". The volunteers spent more than 800 hours trying to recover Hector’s body.

Read more: Search for Hector ‘most difficult’ SAR operation yet

Wānaka SAR comprises six specialist teams - alpine, bush, swift-water/canyon, search dogs, incident management, and most recently, the addition of a drone (unmanned aerial vehicle) group. The teams also deploy out of this area when required.

Most call-outs happen over the summer period and 2026 has shown no signs of being less intense, Raewyn said.

Canyon team on a search, January 2026.

In the first 12 days of January there have been four searches requiring 484 hours of volunteer time, including the Wānaka team sending specialist drone and canyon teams to help with searches in the Tasman and Lake Ōhau areas. 

This included the search for Connor Purvis, who went missing after leaving to climb Mt Huxley in late December. His body was discovered on January 7.

Read more: Body found in search for missing tramper

“The community is very fortunate to have a group as dedicated and multi-skilled as Wānaka SAR operating in this area,” Wānaka Police area response manager Sergeant Darren Cranfield said.

“They are world class.” 

Wānaka SAR is a registered charity relying solely on grants and donations. Find more information or make a donation here.

PHOTOS: Wānaka Search and Rescue