Emergency services have conducted New Zealand's first canyon search and rescue exercise.
Police expect more rescues of this type in the future as canyoning becomes more common. Photo: Supplied / Police
The groups including police, the Canyon Association, and Fire and Emergency practised rescue and rigging techniques over the past weekend in Motueka.
Police said a helicopter rescue was off limits for the exercise, so rescue teams had to treat the patients and then extract them from the canyon using advanced rope techniques.
Canyon rescues provide unique challenges that require rescuers with a specialist set of skills, police said.
They expect more rescues of this type in the future because canyoning trips are becoming more common.
A group of emergency services conduct a practice rescue mission at a canyon. Photo: Supplied / Police