NZ Search & Rescue – Gold Award – Operational Activity

Date: 27th August 2026

Back in 2025 a young Argentinian man went missing on the Rob Roy Glacier walk.  A well-known popular walk renowned as one of the top day walks in the country.  Despite an extensive search spanning multiple weeks with hours of flying and hundreds of volunteer man hours Hector was never located.  

The search was complex and demanding, involving advanced specialised skills across multiple disciplines, exceptional judgement and decision making, classic Kiwi persistence…. and trust.

We work closely with an incredible team of highly skilled volunteers and regular training in the field ensures when the pressure is on an operation can be conducted in a methodical, calm and professional way.  You have an incredible degree of trust in the people you are working alongside, or in our case above!

At this year’s Search and Rescue Awards we were recognised with a Gold Award – the highest achievement – for our part in this technically complex search.  

Our pilots do not go into the field to garner awards, they go into the field to do a job to help locate and save people.  

But it’s always nice when someone taps you on the shoulder and says ‘Hey great job there mate, we recognise and really appreciate what you do’.  

So, thank you New Zealand Search and Rescue, and an even bigger thank you to our awesome crew of volunteers.