Spending an evening with Civil Defence Management’s Bay of Plenty New Zealand Response Team 16 is no ordinary assignment.

In a staged rescue exercise, SunLive joined the team for a high-intensity drill – an up-close look at the skill, precision and teamwork that comes into play when lives are on the line.

Journalist Tom Eley found himself strapped to the stretcher during the evening, offering a unique, first-hand view of the operation, quite literally from the edge. Once harnessed in, he was entirely in the team’s hands.

Members of NZRT16 get ready on the ladder as the stretcher is lowered to the ground.

The NZRT16 team, led by Shaun Thomson, meticulously checked every strap, ensuring that – just like in a real rescue – everything was secured and safety remained the top priority.

As Eley lay flat in the stretcher, helmet on and vision limited, the sound of carabiners clicking and ropes tightening became a surreal soundtrack to the unfolding exercise.

“I didn’t want to write this piece from a distance,” Eley said.

“If I were going to report on what these volunteers do, I felt I had to trust them the same way a real victim would. It’s about perspective – and respect.”

With calm precision, the team lowered the stretcher over the edge of a drop roughly equivalent to a one-storey building.

Suspended in mid-air, Eley described the moment as a “strange mix of vulnerability and trust”.

“It’s one thing to report on rescue operations,” he said.

“It’s a whole other experience to be the one being rescued – relying completely on a team of strangers, all focused, all communicating clearly. You realise just how vital every small step is.”

As the team prepared him for the descent, the atmosphere was calm but focused.

The clinking of karabiners, the double-checking of knots, the quiet calls of confirmation between team members – it all reflected the controlled precision that defines their work.

The NZRT16 team.

The experience left a lasting impression, reinforcing the discipline and co-ordination required behind what might appear, from the outside, to be a routine operation.

Once safely on the ground, Tom was debriefed alongside the team, gaining further insight into how even a training operation demands total concentration and coordination.

NZRT16 trains every Thursday, focusing on a different element of rescue or emergency preparedness.

The team comprises 17 volunteers, each bringing a diverse range of skills and experience in emergency services and search and rescue operations. However, they are actively seeking eight more members.

“We would like a team of 25,” said Thomson. “It does not mean we will take [anybody] if we have 10 people come through the door.”

He explained that the role is not for everyone – resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure are essential.

There is a range of volunteer roles available, including support positions, though the team is primarily seeking operational members. Fitting in with the group is important too, as the team works closely together.

As of 2024, there are 16 nationally accredited response teams in New Zealand, with a total of 424 volunteers ready to be deployed during storms, floods or when requested by councils, according to the Civil Defence website.

NZRT16 members have previously deployed to Auckland during flooding and supported efforts following the Christchurch earthquakes.

Rather than waiting to respond, the team prefers to act early, door-knocking in communities they believe could be at risk of storm damage or flooding.

NZRT16 operates under the management of the Western Bay of Plenty District Council and works in co-ordination with New Zealand Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

“You can’t just call 111 to reach Civil Defence,” said Bruce Rutherford, senior advisor at Emergency Management Bay of Plenty.

“We are very much in the background.”

If an event exceeds the capacity of standard emergency response services, Civil Defence may be activated to provide additional support.

The team will hold an open recruitment night on June 26. Anyone interested can register by emailing: info@nzrt16.com or completing the form at: https://forms.office.com/r/EM8JtMnHGu.