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New Zealand secures UN classification of search and rescue team

11 March 2015

New Zealand has gained a United Nations classification of its national urban search and rescue team following a 36-hour exercise that ended in Palmerston North last night.

In a decision released today, a panel of eight UN classifiers said the team had demonstrated strong competency across all aspects of urban search and rescue – from logistical and management expertise through to reconnaissance, use of search dogs, technical rescue skills and medical treatment of victims.

Classifiers graded the team in 136 categories, giving a green – the highest rating – in all but seven areas. The second category, yellow, signifies some room for improvement. A single red disqualifies contenders.

“We were extremely pleased with their performance,” said the UN team’s leader, Arjan Stam, of Netherlands. “In fact, if there had been a gold rating, they would have received some of them instead.”

Paul Baxter, Chief Executive & National Commander of the New Zealand Fire Service, which led the exercise, said the UN decision was a vindication of many years of hard work to raise the country’s USAR capability to world-class standards.

“The Christchurch earthquakes showed that our USAR teams were up there with the best when it came to hands-on search and rescue. Where we needed to make improvements was in logistics and management – and today’s decision proves that we have made those gains.”

New Zealand now becomes the 41st USAR team in the world to have either a medium or heavy-capacity classification.

As a heavy-capacity team, it meets the requirement to carry out incident management, search, rescue, medical and logistics activities at two disaster sites simultaneously for up to 10 days. It also satisfies the requirement to be able to identify hazardous substances, to have a dog search capability and a technical rescue capability, and to be self-sufficient for all power, water, supplies and equipment needs.

The Palmerston North exercise simulated a deployment to Fiji after its capital Suva had been hit by a severe earthquake.

The 71-member team put through its paces at the disused Longburn freezing works was drawn from more than 200 search and rescue personnel at bases in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch. Team members also carried out a rooftop rope rescue from a central city high-rise and led dog searches at a contractor’s yard.

The multi-agency team included firefighters, paramedics, engineers, dog handlers and a doctor.

Mr Baxter said the classification was important because it confirmed New Zealand met international standards of best practice. It also provided an assurance to neighbouring countries seeking its help after a crisis that it had the necessary expertise to help, rather than hamper, local operations.

“We need to pull our weight on the international stage, and classification is a prerequisite for providing any assistance.”

Mr Baxter said the UN was keen to increase the number of classified teams in the Asia-Pacific region, which included the earthquake-prone Pacific Rim and which until today had only six classified USAR teams.

As a member of the UN’s International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), New Zealand would now increase its commitment to training and mentoring work with other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

INSARAG promotes enhanced standards and co-operation among its 80 member countries, 33 of which have classified teams.

In seeking classification, the Fire Service worked in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management, New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Customs Service, Ministry for Primary Industries, St John, Air Chathams Airline and the Emergency Management Office of Horizons Regional Council.

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