Welcome to AREC New Zealand

    We are a volunteer organisation dedicated to keeping everyone connected during search and rescue operations, emergency responses, and community disasters.
     
    Our skilled radio operators ensure vital information gets where it needs to go — keeping teams coordinated and communities safe.
     
    We work alongside organisations such as Land Search and Rescue, NZ Police, Coastguard, Surf Life Saving, and Civil Defence.
     
    Help us to keep Aotearoa safe by becoming a volunteer, or sponsoring us to support our vital work.
     
     
     

    AREC.site
    AREC’s legacy website and the technical information it contained is still available for a period of time at www.arec.site

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    Our Services

    Communications

    AREC provides a range of communications services covering the provision of highly trained, experience Volunteer radio operators delivering vital messaging services for search and rescue, civil emergencies and community events.

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    Training & Advice

    AREC delivers high quality education, training and assessment of AREC volunteers and other partner organizations. Our volunteers deliver advice and guidance utilizing their extensive technical and operational knowledge.

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    Infrastructure & Equipment

    AREC endeavours to provide and maintain suitable radio and communications technology equipment and infrastructure to enable our volunteers to provide a highly capable and responsive emergency communication service.

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    Volunteers

    AREC’s 450 fully equipped Volunteers provide communications services for civil emergencies, search and rescue and community events.

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    264

    Events attended by AREC + 126 SAR events

    47

    AREC groups
    nationwide

    450

    AREC volunteers

    9

    AREC partners

    Latest News

    Southland AREC

    Tonight, we celebrate Southland AREC being recognized at the NZ Search and Rescue Awards. Brendon ZL4BDS was on hand to receive the certificate of achievement for the search for the
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    Wet day at Dip Flat

    It has been very wet, and now a bit cool at Dip Flat for the Police National SAR Course. AREC – Amateur Radio Emergency Communications providing Comms support with Christchurch and
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    long standing AREC members being recognised

    Years of radio communication have given one Balclutha man audio experiences for a lifetime. Balclutha local Cliff Gray recently received a life membership for his contribution to the South Otago’s
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    Keeping in touch when it counts

    Great article recognising all ‘Hams’ who supported Tairawhiti – Gisborne, through the worst devastation the region had seen in decades.  Ka mau te wehi! https://www.criticalcomms.com.au/content/public-safety/article/radio-amateurs-respond-to-cyclone-gabrielle-249881583
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    Join the adventure!

    Join AREC as a volunteer

    You will join a group and receive training to provide essential communications to support Search & Rescue, Disaster Response, and our community.

    Join Now!
    The sense of accomplishment helping locate a family's loved one cannot be beaten. As an AREC volunteer I enjoy the adventure, using and building my skillset, but most importantly the community I have become a part of. Daniel Erickson – AREC Group Leader
    I joined AREC because I want to help my community. I enjoy building my technical skills and volunteering my time with a group of like-minded people. Terrance Shaw – AREC Volunteer
    I have been an amateur radio enthusiast for a number of years and find that through AREC I can give back to the community. As an avid motor sport fan, I have been involved in supplying communications for car rallies, and events since 1983. Terry James – AREC Group Leader

    Sponsors, Associates & Partners

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    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
    2 weeks ago
    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

    AREC recently supported Moeraki Marae Emergency Response Group with training on their comms equipment.

    The Marae received a FIRST72 Emergency POD (EPOD) through the Ngāi Tahu iwi, as part of an initiative to form Marae Emergency Response Groups, to support the community during significant events.

    The hour-long training covered radio procedures, tuition on Star Link installation, information on each piece of equipment they had, along with some insight around the situations where the equipment would normally be used.

    With some pretty scary weather events happening around the country, it's important that communities around Aotearoa are prepared.

    Do you know any communities who need our help understanding radio comms equipment? Tag them below as we would love to help 👇

    #emergencyresponse ##EmergencyPreparedness #radiocommunication     ... See MoreSee Less

    AREC recently supported Moeraki Marae Emergency Response Group with training on their comms equipment. The Marae received a FIRST72 Emergency POD (EPOD) through the Ngāi Tahu iwi, as part of an initiative to form Marae Emergency Response Groups, to support the community during significant events. The hour-long training covered radio procedures, tuition on Star Link installation, information on each piece of equipment they had, along with some insight around the situations where the equipment would normally be used. With some pretty scary weather events happening around the country, its important that communities around Aotearoa are prepared. Do you know any communities who need our help understanding radio comms equipment? Tag them below as we would love to help 👇 #emergencyresponse ##EmergencyPreparedness #radiocommunicationImage attachment
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    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
    2 weeks ago
    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

    Always a pleasure to support with Radio comms, thanks for having us along West Coast Emergency Management 👍 ... See MoreSee Less

    Always a pleasure to support with Radio comms, thanks for having us along West Coast Emergency Management 👍Image attachmentImage attachment+2Image attachment
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    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
    3 weeks ago
    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

    She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’s keeping comms in place! 🚙

    Check out our new @toyota_nz Hilux 4wd, ready to deploy with equipment and volunteers for significant search and rescue and CDEM incidents.

    💛You can't miss us! - thanks to @speedysignsnz

    #ToyotaNZ #hilux #EmergencyPreparedness #emergencycommunications     ... See MoreSee Less

    She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’s keeping comms in place! 🚙 Check out our new @toyota_nz Hilux 4wd, ready to deploy with equipment and volunteers for significant search and rescue and CDEM incidents. 💛You cant miss us! - thanks to @speedysignsnz #ToyotaNZ #hilux #EmergencyPreparedness #emergencycommunications
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    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
    3 weeks ago
    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

    A few of our team joined the @landsarnz Hikuai SAREX recently, supporting with comms, radio installation and repeater set-up.

    We had a good learning moment when a server connection was lost, and had to go back to manual message logs with a runner! Always good to be kept on our toes during an exercise (quite literally on this occasion!)

    Thanks to the volunteers and partner organisations who made this training exercise a success! Your dedication is what keeps our communities safe 👍

    #EmergencyPreparedness #emergencyresponse #radiocommunication     ... See MoreSee Less

    A few of our team joined the @landsarnz Hikuai SAREX recently, supporting with comms, radio installation and repeater set-up. We had a good learning moment when a server connection was lost, and had to go back to manual message logs with a runner! Always good to be kept on our toes during an exercise (quite literally on this occasion!) Thanks to the volunteers and partner organisations who made this training exercise a success! Your dedication is what keeps our communities safe 👍 #EmergencyPreparedness #emergencyresponse #radiocommunicationImage attachment
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