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Story: Search and rescue

Winch practice

Image
A flying helicopter, with a man standing on its landing gear, and another balanced on a stretcher hanging below.

A helicopter crew practise winching on Motukorea (Brown’s Island) in the Hauraki Gulf. Helicopters have revolutionised both land and marine search and rescue – people in otherwise inaccessible places can be rescued swiftly.

Using this item

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust

by Neville Dawson

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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, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13219/winch-practice (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick and Dan Clearwater, published 2 March 2009, reviewed and revised 27 July 2023 with assistance from Dan Clearwater.