The Government increases staffing at Maritime's Rescue Coordination Centre.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey announced a funding boost for Maritime New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre, increasing the frontline staffing levels from 16 to 20 full-time equivalents. This investment aims to maintain 24/7 operations with skilled personnel responding to emergencies nationally and internationally.
The Government's decision provides additional resources to ensure that rescue coordination teams can respond swiftly to emergencies, saving lives in situations where every second counts. The Rescue Coordination Centre has managed a significant increase of almost 200 per cent in search and rescue incidents over the past decade. Establishing a fifth watch will properly resource this critical round-the-clock service with skilled personnel available to respond to distress signals, missing persons, and other emergency situations.
The funding boost is part of the Government's commitment to improving New Zealand's frontline search and rescue services, strengthening the country's resilience and response capability to keep New Zealanders safe on the water.