A large multi-agency marine search and rescue exercise conducted off the New Plymouth coastline on Sunday has been praised as a strong demonstration of regional emergency readiness.
The large-scale drill simulated an aircraft crashing into the sea, with 47 people reported missing. By the end of the exercise, all simulated casualties had been successfully located, testing the ability of emergency services to operate together under demanding marine conditions.
Police Exercise Director Constable David Bentley said the scenario required fast decision-making, strong coordination and clear communication across land and sea-based teams.
“The outcome was extremely positive,” Bentley said. “All agencies met the objectives of the day, showing a high level of preparedness for a real-life emergency involving modern aviation and marine risks.”
Participants included New Zealand Police Search and Rescue, Coastguard New Zealand, Surf Life Saving New Zealand, the Department of Conservation, Port Taranaki, Cape Egmont Rescue, Air New Zealand and New Plymouth Airport. Personnel were deployed across vessels, coastal locations and coordination centres, placing realistic pressure on command and communication systems.
Volunteers from Surf Life Saving and Coastguard played a critical role in water-based operations, while Police SAR worked alongside the Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington and Port Taranaki to oversee the response.
Air New Zealand and New Plymouth Airport contributed to the exercise by allowing responders to practise coordination with aviation operators during a major incident.
Police acknowledged the significant time commitment from volunteers and staff who took part, noting that exercises of this scale are essential to maintaining readiness for major emergencies.
With summer approaching, Bentley reminded the public to follow water safety advice, including swimming between the flags, wearing lifejackets on vessels, carrying multiple forms of communication and avoiding the water if conditions are uncertain.
