Wānaka Search and Rescue (SAR) has received a sizeable funding boost - $20,000 - from the Otago Community Trust (OCT).

The entirely volunteer-run Wānaka SAR supports NZ Police and the NZ Rescue Coordination Centre with specialist search and rescue services and is one of the busiest SARs in the country, averaging 55-65 operations in a busy year.

Former LandSAR national chair and Wānaka SAR volunteer Phillip Melchior told the Wānaka App the grant was part of the organisation’s 2025 budget fund-raising drive, which is seeking to raise a little under $150,000.

“About 33 percent of the budget is devoted to training - mostly helicopter time reflecting the fact that more than 90 percent of our response work involves helicopters, and therefore our volunteers need to train every year in things like hanging off a strop and getting in and out of a hovering helicopter,” he said.

“Then there's about 20 percent which goes on things like rates, electricity, internet, insurance etc. And the rest is on clothing and equipment - some new to fill identified 'holes' in our set up (for instance waterproof comms helmets which it became clear we needed during the Rob Roy canyon search in February, and some replacement for things which are worn out.”

Wānaka SAR has won multiple awards for rescues over the years, and its chair Raewyn Calhaem said earlier this year the search for a young Argentinian tourist in the Matukituki Valley was one of its most difficult yet.

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

Wānaka SAR was among 35 community organisations awarded funding to enhance services across the region from OCT’s recent funding round, which totalled more than $1M.

The Tarras Community Church Charitable Trust received $11,500 and the Lake Hāwea Community Centre received $5,600 in the OCT April funding round.

Wānaka SAR’s major funders are OCT, the Central Lakes Trust, the Lion Foundation, the Wānaka Lions 4WD annual safari' and Jasmine Social Investments. Learn more about Wānaka SAR or make a contribution here.