AREC at community events

    Amateur Radio Emergency Communication “AREC” the public service arm of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) formed by members who are individually licensed amateur radio operators.

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    Welcome to AREC New Zealand

    Welcome to Amateur Radio Emergency Communication “AREC”. AREC is the public service arm of the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) formed by members who are primarily individually licensed amateur radio operators. AREC provides skilled Volunteers enabling essential communications to support search and rescue, disaster response, and our community.

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

    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 375 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

    375

    AREC volunteers

    8

    AREC partners

    (NZSAR, RCC, Police, LandSAR,)

    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
    3 days ago
    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

    So grateful to work alongside this amazing bunch at HB Civil Defence 💛🥳 While National Volunteer Week is now at an end, we do want to celebrate the 21 new volunteers who have joined our Response and Support teams, and the 8 new members who have joined the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC) team.

    ✅ These new volunteers are a result of the successful volunteer recruitment drive we held earlier this year.

    🙌🏽 It’s great to be able to welcome our new volunteers and acknowledge their commitment to their community.

    🤝 Our new volunteers will gain new skills and develop relationships that will help them support the wider Hawke’s Bay community during an emergency. 

    💪🏽Their dedication helps us continue to build a more resilient Hawke’s Bay.

    🎪 The new members of the Response, Support, and AREC teams were brought together for the first time a couple of weeks ago during a combined training exercise at Hastings Boys’ High, where volunteers practised setting up our multipurpose habitation unit (MHU) tent.

    👥 It’s also important to celebrate and acknowledge ALL the volunteers, and their whānau, who contribute to civil defence emergency management in Hawke’s Bay.

    💛 Whether you are in a team of trained CDEM volunteers, involved with a Community Emergency Hub, or a member of the public who has offered your service on the spur of the moment, the work you do is so incredibly important and hugely appreciated. Ngā mihi nui!     ... See MoreSee Less

    So grateful to work alongside this amazing bunch at HB Civil Defence 💛
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    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
    6 days ago
    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

    Mānawatia a Matariki!

    Wishing you and your whānau a joyful and reflective Matariki. May this special time bring renewal, connection, and hope for the year ahead. ✨🌌     ... See MoreSee Less

    Mānawatia a Matariki! Wishing you and your whānau a joyful and reflective Matariki. May this special time bring renewal, connection, and hope for the year ahead. ✨🌌
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    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications is with Volunteering New Zealand.
    1 week ago
    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

    It's National Volunteer week! 🤝

    AREC wouldn't be able to do what we do, without our volunteers 💛

    To all of our people, thank you for the incredible work you do. Volunteering in the emergency space isn’t easy, but you show up with heart and passion every time. We’re so grateful to have you!

    @volunteeringnz #nvw2025     ... See MoreSee Less

    Its National Volunteer week! 🤝 AREC wouldnt be able to do what we do, without our volunteers 💛 To all of our people, thank you for the incredible work you do. Volunteering in the emergency space isn’t easy, but you show up with heart and passion every time. We’re so grateful to have you! @volunteeringnz #nvw2025
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    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
    2 weeks ago
    AREC - Amateur Radio Emergency Communications

    Our AREC Christchurch team attended the Starsopoly event at Mairehau High School this week - it was great to talk to the students, show them around our comms vehicle and hopefully inspire these young people to get into amateur radio oneday! ⭐️Graeme Dingle Foundation Canterbury ... See MoreSee Less

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