17 April 2025
TEL +64 4 473 0111
Level 11,1 Grey Street, Wellington 6011
PO Box 25620, Wellington 6140
Nate Calloway
New Zealand
[FYI request #30469 email]
F36694
By email
Dear Nate
Official Information Act request – information re RCCNZ tasking of Otago Southland
Rescue Helicopter Trust
I refer to your email of 20 March 2025 to Maritime New Zealand as follows:
“I am writing to request a summary of jobs and associated costs for land based jobs in 2024
and 2025, where RCCNZ has tasked a recuse helicopter from the Otago Southland Rescue
Helicopter Trust.
I understand details of patients etc cannot be shared, but I am wanting a summary including
the following information:
- Job date, start time and finish time
- Summary of events, including activation method (ie beacon, inReach,etc), job location
(lat/long), number in party, extraction method (ie winch, landed, etc), reason for activation (ie
broken ankle, bluffed, hypothermic, lost, etc)
- Result of tasking, i.e. patient flown to Dunstan Hospital, dropped back at vehicle, etc.
- Costs bil ed to RCCNZ from the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust for the job.
We have considered your request under the Act. Some information has been withheld or refused
under the following grounds
9(2)(b)(ii)
to protect information which is subject to an obligation of confidence or
which any person has been or could be compelled to provide under the
authority of any enactment, where the making available of the information
would be likely to prejudice the supply of similar information, or information
from the same source, and it is in the public interest that such information
should continue to be supplied
18(e)
the information does not exist
18(f)
the information cannot be made available without substantial collation or
research
The attached document provides the data that we have in scope of your questions. Some of the
information requested, while held by RCCNZ, is not able to be easily extracted from the incident
management system without substantial and time consuming effort. These questions have been
refused under section 18(f) as the compilation of them would have a significant and unreasonable
impact on RCCNZ’s ability to carry out its other operations. Further context on aspects of your
questions is also provided below.
Job date, start time and finish time
We have provided the dates and start times for the incidents in your requested date range. The
finish of an incident is not as captured as such – many of these events can have a long tail – i.e.
the patient drop of may not be the end of the incident. The helicopter may have to relocate
rescuers for example. This part of your request is therefore being refused under section under
section 18(f), that the information cannot be made available without substantial collation or
research.
- Summary of events, including activation method (ie beacon, inReach,etc), job location
(lat/long), number in party, extraction method (ie winch, landed, etc), reason for activation (ie
broken ankle, bluffed, hypothermic, lost, etc)
We have provided the location, a brief description and notification type. Latitude/Longitude and
extraction method is not captured in a data field within our system, therefore we are refusing
these parts of your request under section 18(f), that the information cannot be made available
without substantial collation or research. Please note also, that RCCNZ does not articulate the
injury type in the same way Health NZ does – as the injury specification is not important in the
search and rescue operation. The on-board Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) makes a Health NZ
clinical assessment and determines treatment options etc. after the rescue has been affected (i.e.
where the patient needs to go to, what specialist health needs are required on arrival etc.).
- Result of tasking, i.e. patient flown to Dunstan Hospital, dropped back at vehicle, etc.
The result of tasking is a decision made by the on-board CCP after the rescue has occurred and
is not captured in a reportable data field within our system. Therefore we are refusing this part of
your request under section 18(f), that the information cannot be made available without
substantial collation or research. Outcomes for non-medical follow ups (eg being dropped back at
a vehicle) are not categorised by RCCNZ therefore we are refusing this part of your request
under section 18(e), the information does not exist.
- Costs bil ed to RCCNZ from the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust for the job.
This information is commercially sensitive, therefore we are refusing this question in full under
s(9)(2)(b)(i ) to protect information where the making available of the information would be likely
unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied or who is the
subject of the information.
With regard to the information that has been withheld under section 9 of the Act, I am satisfied
that the reasons for withholding the information at this time are not outweighed by public interest
considerations that would make it desirable to make the information available.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602
If you wish to discuss this decision, please feel free to email us at
[Maritime New Zealand request email].
Yours sincerely
Christine Ross
Manager, Communications and Ministerial Services
2
Incident
Serial:
Date (UTC)
Start Time
Location:
Description:
Notification Type:
1982
(UTC):
1
25-Mar-25
7:30
Cove Stream, Aoraki Mount Cook
Climbers - Bluffed in Mt Cook
111 Referral
Notification Types:
24-Mar-25
6:26
Lake Wilson, Routeburn Track
Hiker - Lower leg injury
Short
2
PLB
Name:
Long Name:
Explanation:
3
23-Mar-25
7:48
South West arm Hunters Hut
Hunter - airlift recovery
PLB
PLB
Personal Locator Beacon
Distress Beacon
4
20-Mar-25
20:38
Lake Alabaster Hut, Fiordland National Park
Hiker - Exhausted
SEND
EPIRB
Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon
Marine Distress Beacon
ACT
5
18-Mar-25
0:22
Lower Timaru River Track, Lake Hawea
Hiker - injured after fall, ankle
PLB
ELT
Electronic Locating Transmitter
Aircraft Distress Beacon
6
15-Mar-25
2:30
Near Brewster Hut
Climber - Injuries after a fal
PLB
MOC
Maritime Operations Centre
Channel 16 Marine VHF Relay
11-Mar-25
0:06
Gillespie Pass, Mt Aspiring National Park
Climber - Ankle injury
111 Referral Police or Ambulance Communications Centre referral If a 111 cal is determined to be best coordinated by RCCNZ we wil be reffered the
7
PLB
job by Ambulance or Police.
8
9-Mar-25
16:11
Brewster Glacier
Climber - Accidental Activation
PLB
SEND
Satelite Emergency Notification Device
Two way commercial satelite messaging device (i.e. Garmin InReach)
9
9-Mar-25
7:26
Tasman Glacier, Aoraki Mount Cook
Climbers - Bluffed
SEND
PC
Phone Cal
Reported via our 0508 Number
10
7-Mar-25
4:30
Matukituki Saddle, Mount Aspiring National Park
Climber - injured after fal and bluffed
PLB
11
6-Mar-25
4:45
Brewster Glacier
Hiker - Head injury
111 Referral
12
5-Mar-25
22:51
Harris mountains
Hiker - dehydration/exhaustion
PLB
13
5-Mar-25
21:19
East Peak, Mount Earnslaw
Paraglider - serious fall on take off
SEND
14
5-Mar-25
3:00
Coronet Creek, Queenstown
Hiker - exhaustion
PLB
15
27-Feb-25
4:19
Earnslaw Burn Track
Paraglider - Broken ankle/Leg
PLB
16
27-Feb-25
2:27
Lammerlaw Range, Otago
Motorcyclist - Leg injury following accident.
SEND
17
27-Feb-25
0:17
Sugarloaf Pass, Humboldt Mountains
Hikers - Chest pain
PLB
18
26-Feb-25
23:59
Old Moa Creek Ghost Town, Central Otago
Hiker - Medical event
PLB
19
26-Feb-25
3:45
Pomahaka River
Hiker - broken leg
SEND
20
25-Feb-25
3:54
Dart River
Hiker - ankle injury
PLB
21
24-Feb-25
3:30
Unknown
Beacon malfunction
EPIRB
22
24-Feb-25
2:27
Round Hills, Otago
Horse Trek - Ankle fracture
PLB
23
23-Feb-25
23:22
The Neck, Lake Hawea
Paraglider - leg fracture
SEND
24
23-Feb-25
0:26
Goodger Road, Lindis Pass
Horse Trek - elbow injury
PLB
INFORMATION
25
22-Feb-25
2:09
Farmland near The Key, East of Manapouri
Motorcyclist - Broken femur and col ar bone
PLB
26
21-Feb-25
5:33
Earl Mountains, Fiordland National Park
Climbers - 3 x Bluffed
PLB & SEND
27
20-Feb-25
3:41
Cameron Hut, Makarora
Hiker - facial fractures
PLB
28
13-Feb-25
6:02
Poison Bay, Fiordland
Marine - boat grounding
PLB
29
12-Feb-25
7:22
Cove Stream, Mt Mable
Hiker - Bluffed
SEND
30
12-Feb-25
5:53
Stafford Hut - South Westland
Hiker - broken ankle
PLB
31
9-Feb-25
5:05
Camp creek, St Bathans
Motorcyclist - broken arm
PLB
32
8-Feb-25
5:16
Te Araroa Trail, Timaru River, Lake Hawea
Hiker - Injured from fal
PLB & SEND
33
8-Feb-25
1:05
Lake Wakatipu
Marine - EPIRB malfunction
EPIRB
34
4-Feb-25
4:12
Hawkdun Range, St Bathans
Motorcyclist - Medical Issue
PLB
35
3-Feb-25
6:49
Kerin Forks Flat, Mt Aspiring National Park
Hiker - vommitting nausea
PLB
36
2-Feb-25
23:29
Gertude Val ey Track
Hiker - ankle injury
SEND
37
2-Feb-25
7:01
Wye Creek South Branch
Hunter - Bluffed
PLB
OFFICIAL
38
2-Feb-25
1:11
Arrow river, Macetown
Hiker - Dislocated shoulder
SEND
39
1-Feb-25
8:06
Mt Temple, Trinity Glacier, Olivine Range
Hiker - Leg Laceration
PLB & SEND
40
31-Jan-25
23:32
Harris Mountains, Mount Aspiring National Park
Paraglider - head, chest, and knee pain
PLB
41
31-Jan-25
7:33
Manorburn Reservoir, North end
Hiker - Medical Issue
PLB
42
28-Jan-25
8:21
REES River val ey
Trail runner - wet cold and sprained knee
PLB
43
26-Jan-25
20:49
Greenstone Track, Otago
Hiker - ruptured quad - non weight bearing
PLB
44
23-Jan-25
5:20
Cascade River, West Coast
Hunter - lost
SEND
THE
45
21-Jan-25
1:58
4nm E of Gladstone, Wanaka
Aircraft - Helicopter crash
ELT
46
21-Jan-25
1:36
Dart River Track
Hiker - ankle injury
PLB
47
17-Jan-25
23:25
Rees River, Mount Earnslaw
Hikers - child ankle sprain
PLB
16-Jan-25
4:52
Bush Creek Saddle, 5.5nm NNE of Queenstown Airport
Paraglider - Fractured ankles, suspected fractured hip
48
Phone Cal
49
15-Jan-25
15:53
Daleys Flat hut, Dart River
Hiker - Sick person
PLB
50
13-Jan-25
22:43
Clarendon, Southland
Tractor Rol - Ambulance managed.
PLB
51
12-Jan-25
4:30
Greenstone track junction Caples track
Hikers - Ankle injury
PLB
52
11-Jan-25
7:24
Gillespie Pass, Mount Aspiring National Park
Hiker - seizures
PLB
53
10-Jan-25
23:01
Brewster Glacier
Climber - broken ankle
PLB
54
10-Jan-25
2:57
Waipori, Otago
Hikers - accidental activation
PLB
UNDER
10-Jan-25
0:06
Lammermoor Range, Otago
Motorcyclists - broken down wet/cold - isolated
55
location
PLB
56
9-Jan-25
21:25
Dart River Track
Hiker - leg injury
PLB
57
6-Jan-25
7:37
Zeil ian Creek above the Clarke River
Hunters - 2 x bluffed
SEND
58
5-Jan-25
22:23
Rees Track, Queenstown
Hikers - knee injury
PLB
59
5-Jan-25
2:18
Fiery Creek, off the Olivine River, Fiordland
Hiker - knee injury
PLB
60
5-Jan-25
0:32
Motatapu Track, 3 km E of Treble Cone, Wanaka
Hiker - lower leg injury
PLB
61
3-Jan-25
6:10
Greenstone Track
Worker - Handsaw Injury
PLB
62
31-Dec-24
1:52
Mt Clarke, Mataketake Range, West Coast
Hiker - acute abdominal pain and nausea
PLB
63
16-Dec-24
2:32
Green stone track, Livingstone Mountains
Hiker - Ankle injury
PLB
64
4-Dec-24
20:12
East of Stewart Island
MEDEVAC - NG Orion - Broken wrist
111 Referral
RELEASED
65
23-Nov-24
0:35
Wangaloa, Kaitangata
Motorcyclist - Leg fracture
PLB
66
22-Nov-24
20:25
Christmas Creek Hutt
Hiker - dizzyness/vertigo
PLB
1982
67
12-Nov-24
3:24
Lake Marian Walkway, Southland
Climber - fall
SEND
68
11-Nov-24
22:14
Tasman Sea enroute to Foveaux Strait
MEDEVAC - Stavanger - crew abdominal pain
111 Referral
69
4-Nov-24
22:45
Square Top, Haast River
Worker - fal with head and leg injuries
PLB
70
18-Oct-24
20:42
Clutha River, Roxburgh Gorge
Tourist - possible hip dislocation
PLB
71
16-Oct-24
21:05
Lower Nevis road
Fishermen - 1 x Broken Leg
PLB
72
13-Oct-24
1:42
Argle Burn, Waikaia, Southland
Hiker - accidental activation
PLB
ACT
73
11-Oct-24
22:08
Carrick Range, Queenstown
Hiker - PLB Malfunction
PLB
74
10-Oct-24
4:04
Mt Ollivier
Ski er - leg fracture
SEND
75
7-Oct-24
6:55
Little Homer Saddle Hol yford track
Hikers - Party of 6 x pers, 1 x missing
PLB
22-Sep-24
23:49
Treble Cone Ski field
Skiiers - Triggered avalanche (5 x pers - 2 x partial y
76
buried)
SEND
5-Aug-24
4:04
40NM west of Greymouth
MEDEVAC - Alesky Slobodchikov - Crew member with
77
col apsed lung
MOC
78
2-Aug-24
21:48
Pisa Range
Hunter - ankle injury
Phone Cal
79
25-Jul-24
11:02
Henry Creek, South of Te Anau Downs
Hunters - 1 x hyperglycaemic
PLB
80
23-Jul-24
23:00
Lawrence, Otago
Hiker - Accidental activation
PLB
81
15-Jul-24
8:49
Greenstone Hut
Hiker - shoulder injury
PLB
82
23-Jun-24
0:19
Double Cone, Remarkables
Climber - leg injury
PLB
13-Jun-24
5:48
Boys Glacier, Mt Cook
Climber - fal with minor injuries and broken crampon
83
PLB
84
8-Jun-24
0:06
Near Ranfurly
Aircraft - PAN call with engine issues
Airways
85
3-Jun-24
7:34
Twin Stream, 3km W Glentanner, Lake Pukaki
Hunters - 2 x Bluffed after dark
PLB
86
13-May-24
8:10
Sealers Bay, Codfish Island
Marine - Accidental EPIRB activation
EPIRB
87
10-May-24
4:51
Mt Butement East Spur
Climber - Bluffed
PLB
88
5-May-24
12:26
Landsborough River
Hiker - Diabetic episode
PLB
89
1-May-24
1:41
McEwens Bush, Central Otago
Hiker - Accidental activation
PLB
INFORMATION
30-Apr-24
23:37
57nm SE of Bluff
MEDEVAC - Fortinui - Crew person with suspected
90
stroke
111 Referral
91
29-Apr-24
19:13
Route Burn Track, Glenorchy end
Hikers - accidental activation
PLB
92
27-Apr-24
6:17
Mill Creek, Aspiring National Park
Climber - head injury/loss of conciousness
SEND
93
26-Apr-24
3:56
Dunstan Creek, St Bathans
Hunter - leg injury
PLB
94
26-Apr-24
3:05
Above the Haast to Paringa Cattle Track, Southwestland
Climber - bluffed
PLB
95
25-Apr-24
19:53
Demon Trail Hut, Hollyford Track
Hikers - stranded by weather
PLB
96
16-Apr-24
15:07
Tautuku Forest Cabins, Catlins Forest Park
Hikers - lost on track
PLB
97
9-Apr-24
7:00
Kerin Forks Flat, Mount Aspiring National Park
Hiker - lower leg injury
SEND
98
7-Apr-24
22:13
Mackinnon Pass Shelter
Hikers - 1 x lower leg injury
PLB
99
7-Apr-24
2:13
Queenstown
Hiker - Accidental PLB Activation
PLB
100
6-Apr-24
18:42
Danseys Pass, South Canterbury
Hunters x 3 - Serious fal and injuries x 3.
PLB
101
6-Apr-24
3:44
Brewster Glacier, 5.25nm NE of Haast Pass
Paraglider - Serious head/back injuries
SEND
102
4-Apr-24
23:38
Ball Pass, Aoraki Mt Cook
Hiker - Ankle Injury
PLB
OFFICIAL
103
1-Apr-24
2:35
Mount Buster, Oteake Conservation Park
Hiker - Broken Leg
PLB
104
31-Mar-24
3:31
Rabbit Pass Route west of Mt Lois Peak
Hikers - Trapped by weather/snow
PLB
105
24-Mar-24
11:43
Moke Creek Right Hand Branch, Moke Lake, Queenstown
Hiker - Vommitting and hypothermic
PLB
20-Mar-24
7:52
Salt water Bluff west coast
Isolated Location - Child fal en from Hut bunk -
106
broken arm and concussion
Phone Cal
107
19-Mar-24
1:34
Nokomai
Mountain Biker - Clavicle fracture
PLB
108
17-Mar-24
19:56
Brodrick Hut, Huxley River
Hiker - Abdominal Injuries
PLB
THE
15-Mar-24
12:15
Foveaux Strait, 10nm ESE of Bluff
MEDEVAC - Bril iance of the Seas - Cardiac Arrest
109
MOC
110
14-Mar-24
0:26
North West Circuit Track, Stewart Island
Hiker - Head injuries
PLB
111
8-Mar-24
0:02
Hollyford Track, Fiordland
Hiker - Head laceration
PLB
112
6-Mar-24
20:44
Routeburn Track
Hiker - Fainting and dizzyness
PLB
113
3-Mar-24
22:21
Tummel Burn Hut, source of Shotover River, Queenstown area
Hikers - Party of six trapped by rising river
PLB
114
1-Mar-24
22:51
ORE stream Makarora
Canyoners - Leg fracture
SEND
115
29-Feb-24
22:31
Hakataramea Valley
Aircraft - ELT false activation
ELT
116
26-Feb-24
23:34
Lake Onslow Road, Otago
Motorcycle - Leg fracture
SEND
117
25-Feb-24
5:42
Gertrude Val ey Track, Fiordland
Climber - head, neck, back injuries
PLB
118
25-Feb-24
2:17
Young Forks, Mt Aspiring NP
Hiker - Chest pain
PLB
UNDER
119
21-Feb-24
18:52
Te Araroa Trail, Quailburn, Lake Ohau
Hiker - Ankle Injury
SEND
20-Feb-24
5:49
Southwestern slope of Cloudy Peak, 39NM WNW of Methven
Climber - Party of three. 1 x hit by a rock and
120
sustained a serious head injury
PLB
18-Feb-24
1:18
160nm ESE of Christchurch Airport
MEDEVAC - Ocean Dawn - Seriously injured crew
121
member
Phone Cal
17-Feb-24
5:17
Horn Range, Gibbston Val ey
4WD Breakdown - way off-road - no safety equipment
122
EPIRB
123
17-Feb-24
4:31
19nm SSE of Dunedin
MEDEVAC - Ovation of the Seas - Stroke
MOC
124
13-Feb-24
20:23
Waikaia Bush Rd, Piano Flat, Southland
Motorcycle - rider with broken leg
PLB
125
10-Feb-24
23:20
Nevis Rd, Nevis Val ey
Motorcycle - Accidental activation
PLB
126
9-Feb-24
8:25
4.9M NNE of Taiaroa Head
MEDEVAC - Vasco Da Gama - Head Injury
MOC
RELEASED
127
8-Feb-24
22:30
Motutapu Track, 0.5nm SW of Fern Burn Hut
Hiker - Injured Ankle
SEND
128
4-Feb-24
5:08
Mt Melina Track, Wanaka
Hiker - incapacitated due to weather
SEND
1982
129
1-Feb-24
1:24
Mather Creek off Haast Pass Road
Hiker - Ankle Injury
SEND
130
31-Jan-24
22:54
Rambling Gorge, Central Otago
Mountain biker - Hip/Leg Injury
SEND
131
29-Jan-24
18:51
Shelter Rock Hut, Rees Track, Otago
Hiker - Hamstring injury can't walk
PLB
132
29-Jan-24
6:13
Mt Hyde - Queenstown
Aircraft - Robinson R22 Crash
ELT
133
13-Jan-24
1:01
Hol yford Track, 4km S of Sunshine Hut
Hiker - Dislocated Ankle
PLB
9-Jan-24
5:20
Cluden Stream, Lindis Pass
Vehicle Accident - had rol ed down bank off road
ACT
134
PLB
135
8-Jan-24
6:15
Stody's Hut, Lake Hawea
Hiker - bluffed on exposed route
PLB
136
7-Jan-24
22:29
Timaru River, Lake Hawea
Hiker - bluffed on exposed route
PLB
137
3-Jan-24
8:00
West Matukituki Val ey
Hiker - Casualty with burns on leg
SEND
138
3-Jan-24
5:44
Ahuriri Valley, Te Araroa Trail, Birchwood - MacKenzie
Hiker - dislocated shoulder
SEND
INFORMATION
OFFICIAL
THE
UNDER
RELEASED
Document Outline
