What we do
A lot of the work our volunteers do, is done behind the scenes, and starts long before an emergency happens.
The maintenance of infrastructure and equipment, providing advice, and communications planning are all important for ensuring those involved in a response can pass essential information.
During a response, our volunteers set up and run communications for Search and Rescue operations and Civil Defence emergencies.
Search & Rescue
Our role in the SAR sector is to provide emergency communications and information management during a search.
This involves various tasks depending on the type of search, and can include: assessing what communications equipment is required depending on the environment, setting up the equipment, manning the radios supporting clear communication between teams, and using our expertise to advise on communications planning.
Our volunteers play a supporting role, working very closely with search personnel and incident management teams.
Outside of searches, we also support our SAR partners with training and advice.
AREC work alongside other National Government Organisations (NGO’s) within the Search and Rescue sector
There are two coordinating authorities who manage search operations in Aotearoa; New Zealand Police (Category 1) and the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (Category 2).
The organisations we work alongside to support the coordinating authorities with searches include Land Search and Rescue New Zealand, Coastguard and Surf Life Saving.
Civil Defence
Our role in the Emergency Management sector is to support local response teams, ensuring information gets where it needs to go in a crisis.
During severe weather and other natural disaster events, communities in New Zealand are often unable to communicate via traditional means due to power failures, damaged infrastructure, and network congestion.
Radio communications are not reliant on these things, which enables our volunteers to step in and get information flowing immediately.
Our people are often stationed at Emergency Operations Centres, manning the radios and supporting with message handling.
Reliable communications during a disaster is essential for responders to understand the status of affected areas, infrastructure and roads, as well as who may need help.
AREC volunteers work with local, Regional and National response teams during disasters
Local councils and regional groups activate an EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) during events such as severe weather, coordinating field responses.
NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) provide National-level coordination, leading responses if we are in a National state of emergency.
Our volunteers work in with these teams, providing communications and passing essential messages to ensure those that need help, get it.
Community Events
During local community events our volunteers help to ensure those attending are safe.
Community events require a good level of safety planning, and the ability to keep organisers and those attending informed.
Our volunteers help at many events during the year, from car rallies to Santa Parades and sporting events.
We help with advice when communications for the event are being planned, as well as attending on the day to ensure messages get to the right people.
We’ve supported at Tararua Mountain Race, Car Rally Hawkes Bay, Wyndham Rally, Invercargill Santa Parade, Hawkes Bay Spring Fling, Porirua Grand Traverse and many more whānau events around New Zealand.
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Read more about what we do
AREC launch their Rapid Deployment Team
AREC Manawatu Group support Massey University Veterinary Emergency Response Team (VERT)
Southland Training Camp at Lake Mavora
AREC volunteer emergency radio network modernised, with Vetta Group keeping it online
AREC volunteer receives recognition at the NZ Search and Rescue Awards
