Operational Wilderness Teams Current - 2012

Name Dog Area Contact number
Bridget Martin Zinzan T W
 Auckland
Graeme Hill Gemma / Odin T Hamilton (027) 693 9918
Ross Humphrey Haze T W Taupo (027) 223 4480
Rachel Procter Fledge W Wellington / Palmerston North (021) 037 9381
Sue Chesterfield Matai T W Wellington (021) 170 0983
Alex Britton Maku W Wellington (027) 417 1370
Larry Charles

Namu / Ammo

T Murchison (03) 523 9946
Sally Collis Gidget W West Coast (021) 104 5509
Duncan Hamilton Baxter T West Coast (027) 224 2595
Dave Krehic Stig W Christchurch (0275) 819 819
Ron Ealam Seika T W Oxford (027) 242 4907
Mark Allen Koda W Twizel (021) 355 317
Barry Dougherty Yip W Mosgiel (022) 323 5199
Nicholas Sleeman Gus W Dunedin (021) 296 4994
Dermot Mayock Fin W Dunedin (027) 215 8838

W - Wilderness (Area Search) T - Tracking

Deploying a wilderness SAR dog:

Search dog mobilisation should be directed through the New Zealand Police, either local or by the 111 system - if however the dogs and handlers are deployed by other means, then the NZ Police should be notified as soon as possible thereafter.

Twice a year all LandSAR groups are provided with an up to date contact list of the operational wilderness SAR dogs. This list (as above)should be part of all groups' operational folder so that the contact details are readily available. The teams are endorsed Tracking, Area Search or both.

At times dogs are an extremely useful search tool.They are particularly useful for finding non-responsive people and discarded articles, establishing the direction of travel, covering large areas quickly, and working at night and in difficult terrain, but remember they need to be considered early.

Get to know your nearest dog teams so that you can understand their abilities and limitations.

If in any doubt contact your nearest operational handler from the list above.