News
Fiordland rescue exercise puts weather backup plans to the test
SLSNZ’s October update describes four days of Fiordland rescue training, night searches and a changed exit plan when weather stopped helicopter extraction.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand has reported on a demanding Fiordland search-and-rescue exercise, with 30 volunteers training over four days in September. Its 2 October update describes work around the Hollyford Valley, Pyke River and Lake Alabaster.
What the teams practised
- GPS navigation and communications.
- Flood and swiftwater rescue skills.
- A coordinated night search on Lake Alabaster.
Weather changed the plan
Rough sea conditions cancelled a planned coastal transit before the exercise began. Later, worsening weather prevented the intended helicopter extraction. The team moved 11 inflatable rescue boats and equipment around Hidden Falls Rapid, then continued upriver towards the Hollyford road end.
A useful reminder for outdoor trips
Even well-equipped teams needed alternatives when conditions changed. For a recreational trip, build in time to wait or turn back, leave your intentions with someone and carry suitable communications. The report is about a training exercise, not a visitor rescue.
Read next: River-crossing decisions for trampers.
Sources and photo credits
Sources checked 3 October 2026.
Photo: Archive landscape of Lake Alabaster, not a photograph of the 2026 exercise. Lake Alabaster 1.jpg — Sarang. Public domain. Resized for display.
