Source: New Zealand Police
Attribute to Inspector Caroline Martin, Hawke’s Bay Area Commander:
Five Police Search and Rescue (SAR) staff rescued a woman and her three children who had set out on a hike in Kawera Forest Park over the weekend.
Around 5.45pm on Sunday, Police received a report from a man whose calls weren’t connecting to his wife, who was expected back from a short afternoon hike with their children.
The Rescue Coordination Centre tasked Police SAR with a search of the party and planned for a potential airlift from the area.
Police made contact with the wife through their activated personal locator beacon (PLB), which helped the rescue team in accurately and quickly locating the family.
Five search and rescue members deployed quickly on foot and located the family, who were in good spirits.
SAR staff discovered the woman had injured herself during the hike and couldn’t walk. The three children weren’t hurt.
The family and SAR team stayed overnight in a nearby hut and were airlifted out yesterday afternoon.
Police commend the family’s decision to carry a PLB, which was integral in finding them.
We always recommend that you carry the appropriate emergency equipment such as a PLB and a satellite communication device no matter how long or short a hiking trip may be. Mobile phones don’t always have service in remote areas.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/09/08/family-rescued-from-kaweka-forest-park/