Major search exercise

A major search and rescue exercise will be held in the Kaitake Range involving staff from several regions this weekend. Up to 35 members of the Taranaki, Tainui and Ruapehu LandSAR groups and AREC (Amateur Radio Emergency Communications), along with members of the Taranaki Police search and rescue squad, will be deployed to the area just west of New Plymouth. They will spend up to 24 hours in the area from this afternoon until the exercise is complete. ‘‘These exercises are valuable in ensuring our people are welltrained and equipped to respond to the hugely varying search and rescue emergencies we are called upon in Taranaki,’’ Sergeant Andrew Wong Too said. ‘‘Police and LandSAR are aware of the need to become familiar in the area, given the large number of unmarked predator control tracks and an increase in the use of the Pukeiti Gardens and Kaitake Ranges for local trail runners, including the potential for them to get lost in there if they deviate from the published tracks.’’