Story: Search and rescue

Wellington’s first airborne life raft

Five men, one in a police uniform, holding a box.

From left: Wellington Search and Rescue personnel R. A. Mackay, C. K. Watson, W. G. L. Barrell, Captain G. Henry and Inspector I. Croxford display the first air-dropped life-raft to be used in the Wellington region, in December 1973. Inflatable life-rafts that could be dropped from aircraft were introduced in New Zealand in the early 1970s. They made it possible to help people in trouble at sea who could not be reached quickly by boat or helicopter.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1973/5393/8A

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick and Dan Clearwater, 'Search and rescue - Rescue equipment and techniques', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/13218/wellingtons-first-airborne-life-raft (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick and Dan Clearwater, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 27 Jul 2023 with assistance from Dan Clearwater