Motueka Search and Rescue

10/03/2026

Some photos from our combined sar training with Search and Rescue Nelson on Monday night. Thanks to our instructors Kegan, Jai and Simon, and Daniel for organising.

18/01/2026

We are very pleased to hear that Graham has been found. An excellent outcome.

Graham Garnett, 66, has been found sheltering in a hut in Kahurangi National Park, alive.

Graham went tramping in the Baton/Ellis River area and did not return as expected on 30 December.

An operation got underway involving Land Search and Rescue New Zealand (LandSAR) groups and specialist teams, New Zealand Defence Force, Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand and many volunteers and supporters.

On Thursday 15 January, the search team made the difficult decision to call off the search but remained ready to respond if new information came to light.

Today at about 2.30pm Graham was discovered in Venus Hut by contractors who were working in the area.

Graham has been transported to Nelson Hospital where he has been reunited with his family.

This is an amazing result. We are so pleased for Graham and his loved ones.

Obviously he has been through quite an ordeal and everyone involved in the search is delighted to hear that Graham has been found alive.

Graham's family request privacy at this time.

15/01/2026

Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast Police have suspended the search for Graham Garnett. https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/kahurangi-national-park-search-suspended

Motueka Land Search and Rescue would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge everyone who has given their time and support to this search.

To the volunteers of the following groups who gave their time and expertise, and also to the family and employers of those volunteers:
Motueka Land Search and Rescue
Search and Rescue Nelson
Golden Bay Search & Rescue
LandSAR Marlborough
Murchison Land Search and Rescue

For support with RECCO:
Greymouth Land Search and Rescue
Westport Land Search & Rescue

For providing specialist teams and to the volunteers of those teams:
Tasman Swiftwater and Canyon Search and Rescue
Wānaka Swiftwater and Canyon Search and Rescue
Canterbury Canyon Search and Rescue
Upper North Island Canyon Search and Rescue

For resources, personnel and assistance:
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Rescue Coordination Centre

For providing gear, parking spaces, food and support for our volunteers and technical teams:
The Baton House - Ange Palmer
The Smoking Barrel
Woolworths Motueka
Rainbow Ski Area
Motueka Aerodrome

To the commercial operators who contracted their services:
Nelson Heli Charter
Garden City Helicopters
Nelson Helicopters

We would like to thank the Nelson Marlborough, West Coast Police Search and Rescue team for providing leadership in this search and to Land Search & Rescue New Zealand for the support both in the search and ongoing training.

Police continue to support the family in their ongoing efforts to bring Graham home and we remain ready to respond if new information comes to light. Our thoughts are with Graham’s family and loved ones at this time

05/01/2026

🚨Ongoing Search – Kahurangi National Park
A search is continuing for a tramper overdue in the Baton area of Kahurangi National Park.
To support ongoing search efforts, the following areas will be closed tomorrow:

Wilkinson Track
Baton Saddle
Loveridge Spur Route
Cowin Spur Track
Wharepapa Arthur Range – from Mount Star through to The Twins
Walking track to Flanagans Hut

Police are keen to hear from anyone who they haven't spoken to yet who was in the Baton/Ellis River area from the afternoon of 26 December, particularly anyone who was around Flanagan's Hut. More information is available here: https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/search-missing-tramper-kahurangi-national-park

02/01/2026

Tasman Police have received a report of an overdue tramper in the Baton Valley / Ellis River / Twins area of the Kahurangi National Park.

The 66-year-old man was due to return home on 30 December but has not done so.

The man is around 177cm tall, approximately 100kg.

To help our search teams, we would like to hear from anyone who has been in the Baton Valley / Ellis River area since the afternoon of 26 December.

Search and Rescue would appreciate also hearing from anyone who has been around or stayed at the Flanagan’s Hut – and who may have seen a man matching this description.

If you can help, please contact Police via 105, either online or by phone, and quote event number P064981672.

14/08/2025

Thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors, who helped make the Motsar quiz night such a success. Please support them so they can continue to support us.

19/03/2025

What an incredible weekend in Tāmaki Makaurau at the 2-yearly Land Search & Rescue New Zealand Hui! 🙌 It was an enriching experience filled with learning, sharing, and connecting with amazing volunteer colleagues, partners, and international visitors. 😁

The presentations were fascinating, and it was a great opportunity to hear from others and learn about the exciting developments happening in the world of SAR. 🚨

A massive thank you to everyone who helped make the Hui such a success. Your dedication, passion, and knowledge made this event truly unforgettable! 👏👏👏

Huge thanks to all who arranged and contributed to this wonderful event! Can't wait for the next one! 🙏

01/01/2025

It’s hard to find the words to describe how we feel about this senseless loss. Our friends and colleagues in the police put themselves in harms way every day to serve and protect the rest of us. I’m sure many of them are asking themselves today why the hell do they do it, and if they’re not then it’s damn sure their partners and family members must be. Yet they continue to turn up to work dealing with difficult situations and abuse every day, in the most part with a great deal of humility and compassion. We in search and rescue are in the privileged position to see this in person and hear how much many of them go above and beyond, often volunteering their time, and we salute you all. Thank you for your dedication, your commitment and your service. You will always have our support and respect. Kia kaha.

It’s with the deepest sadness that we advise that one of our staff injured in a serious incident in Nelson has died.

Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming tragically succumbed to injuries she sustained after her and a colleague were struck by a vehicle travelling at speed while out on foot patrol. Lyn was critically injured alongside her Nelson Bays colleague, who remains in a serious but stable condition in Nelson hospital.

Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming was a highly respected leader in the Nelson Bays team with much of her family also strongly connected to Police. Lyn had 38 years of front-line service. She was also a much-loved wife, daughter, mother and respected member of the Nelson community.

It fills us with great sadness that in the efforts to keep the public safe on a night intended for celebration has culminated in a senseless act that has taken the life of one of our colleagues and seriously injured another.

This is a tragic day for New Zealand Police and for Lyn’s family.

Our deepest condolences go out to Lyn’s family during this most difficult time.

29/07/2024

A charitable act from one community group to another has strengthened an unlikely link between the M...

14/07/2024

Helicopter training today, ensuring everyone is safe and competent around helicopters. Thanks NZ Land Search and Rescue and Helicharter Nelson.

11/06/2024

Thanks again everyone for coming and supporting Motueka Search and Rescue

Sorry for the delay team. Here's the results from this weeks quiz!
Thanks to LandSAR who raised just over $2k on the night :)