Membership Application

General

Christchurch SAR was created in 2008 to incorporate the Christchurch members of the previous Pegasus Search & Rescue Group. Pegasus SAR included the Christchurch group (incorporating members from Red Cross, Deerstalkers, ChCh Tramping Club etc.), Banks Peninsula SAR and Arthurs Pass SAR. 

The regional structure changed in 2009 and all groups became individually affiliated to the National organisation (LandSAR NZ). Christchurch SAR therefore now forms part of Canterbury LandSAR which is made up of :

• Christchurch SAR

• Oxford SAR

• Ellesmere SAR

• Rakaia SAR

• Hurunui SAR

• Hanmer SAR

• Methven SAR

• South Canterbury SAR

• Mackenzie SAR

• Alpine Rescue Canterbury (ARC)

Joining process for New Members

The following is the procedure when applying for membership of our group:

•  You must live in the Christchurch area.

• You must have completed an Enquiry form and then have been asked to apply by the Membership Coordinator.

• Complete the Christchurch SAR membership application form 

• Supply a passport-style photograph in JPEG format.

• Complete a Police vetting check.

• For the first few months attend the regular team training activities and get to know members. If still interested after this you will be made a probational member of the group.

• During the probational period, you will need to attain the core skills of Search Techniques, Tracking & Clue Awareness and First Aid (If not already certified). 

• You will be also be expected to maintain active attendance at the team’s activities.

Probationary Period

During the probationary period, it is expected that probationary members attain the core skills, attend group training sessions, and attend at least one SAREX (Search & Rescue Exercise). Once the requirements for probationary members are completed the committee will make a decision to accept them as an operational member, based on the above as well as feedback from the team.

Operational Status

No probationary member will be called out on an operation until they have completed the following:

•  Valid First Aid Certificate

•  Tracking & Clue Awareness Course

•  Search Techniques Course 

•  Participation at a SAREX

•  Regular group training

Training

Field training is held monthly for Christchurch SAR members on or around the 15th of each month. The monthly training calendar is put together by the Christchurch SAR committee and circulated to members, and run by the group training officer. Christchurch SAR members take turns at running training sessions. Christchurch SAR requires its members to attend 60% of training sessions held over the year.

Other training opportunities are available via courses organised by LandSAR New Zealand, and these can be signed up for by members at their choosing. There are also regional exercises where you will have the opportunity to mix with SAR members from other areas.

Callouts

In order to avoid delays and possible conflict, it is important that you discuss your SAR involvement with your employer. When a callout occurs members are expected to respond at short notice, often at night and potentially in bad weather. You should be able to prepare for a search quickly and should always arrive fully equipped at a SAROP (search and rescue operation) or a SAREX (search and rescue exercise).

Members must be adequately skilled and equipped and are expected to be self-sufficient in the field for up to 48 hours. Field teams are often deployed in hazardous situations and conditions and it is essential that every member in the team knows and is able to rely on all other members of that team. 

While training is important, equally important is the need for all members to know and trust each other. Much of this trust is developed through social activities and our training activities also have a significant social aspect to them.

Membership Application Form

We collect personal information about you to administer your membership in this group and to provide LandSAR New Zealand with accurate membership data.  

• As part of this, we share the information we hold about you with New Zealand Land Search and Rescue Incorporated, so that LandSAR can list you in its national database, which can be accessed by all other members of LandSAR groups in New Zealand.  

• Providing this information is a compulsory part of becoming a member of our group.  

• You have statutory rights to access and correct the information we hold about you, and you can edit much of the information that LandSAR holds about you by yourself via the online national database.  

• You may access your personal information held by LandSAR by logging into the members’ section of the website landsar.org.nz and make corrections if required or you may contact the group secretary.

National Website

https://www.landsar.org.nz/