RNZAF continue to assist search for missing trampers
A Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 and crew are re-joining the search for Jessica O’Connor and Dion Reynolds in Kahurangi National Park after bad weather hampered efforts earlier this week.
NZ Police have requested further support from the New Zealand Defence Force, and the NH90 and crew departed RNZAF Base Ohakea this morning for the national park.
The crew will winch insert LandSar teams and search dogs in to the Upper Webb and surrounds of the Wakamarama Range.
The NH90 helicopter is well suited to flying in remote areas and has winching capabilities which means the crew can insert search teams into rugged terrain which is not easily accessible by other means.
Several LandSAR teams with search dogs will be taken by the NH90 into different areas in the Wakamarama Range over the next 2–3 days.