Youth Search and Rescue in operation. Photo: Supplied / Youth Search and Rescue
Youth Search and Rescue will be shutting down at the end of the year.
The three-year programme, founded in 2005, has trained more than 600 students - aged 14 to 18 - across eight branches.
Many graduates have gone on to volunteer with Land Search and Rescue, Coastguard, Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, and other search and rescue groups - or to work in emergency management, guiding, and outdoor leadership.
The Youth Search and Rescue Trust said in a statement that it had become increasingly concerned about the financial viability of the Youth Search and Rescue delivery model, particularly the sustainability of the growth strategy implemented since 2019.
About 12 percent of Youth Search and Rescue's operating budget came from student fees, 50 percent from the government agency New Zealand Search and Rescue, and the remainder depended on fundraising.
Youth Search and Rescue in operation. Photo: Supplied / Youth Search and Rescue
The programme had a one-off establishment fee of $396 on top of an annual fee of $721, which covered equipment, transport, logistics, and administration.
"Our ambition to scale was sadly not matched by a sustainable funding model to enable it," the Board of Trustees said.
Chairman Dr Daniel McGowan told RNZ that the trust had hoped to open more branches around the country.
The trust had also stopped receiving funding through New Zealand Search and Rescue for training for external courses, and was not eligible for funding through the Tertiary Education Commission, McGowan said.
"In the absence of those, it became even more important to fill that gap through fundraising," he said.
"The board came to the realisation that we couldn't, in good faith, recruit new students for next year and invoice our returning students for next year if we couldn't remain solvent and trade throughout the full year.
"Despite many efforts to try and fill the gap and to keep the operation going, ultimately, there were no answers.
"We made the only decision that we could, which was to cease operations at the end of this year and then look to wind up the existing trust in early 2026."
Youth Search and Rescue in operation. Photo: Supplied / Youth Search and Rescue
McGowan said four staff members would be made redundant as a result.
There are also 210 students currently enrolled, McGowan added.
"I'm just so utterly gutted for all those students who have started and can't return, all those who might have come through in future, and for our staff and volunteers.
Youth Search and Rescue in operation. Photo: Supplied / Youth Search and Rescue
"It was the only responsible decision that could be made in the circumstances."
Chelle Brouwer, a Youth Search and Rescue volunteer in Christchurch, told RNZ that she was "pretty gutted" about the decision.
"I look at the value that these guys add for the community in terms of having young people, especially because I'm from Christchurch... anyone that's involved in any sort of emergency management is very aware of the risk of the Alpine Fault, so being able to have these young people who have got a process in place - they know what to do. It would keep them calmer and less stressed. And it would allow them to help their communities," she said.
"I think any young people that we can support to feel confident responding under pressure, and responding in the face of an emergency, that's massive. So as far as I'm concerned, in terms of youth organisations that are doing good in the community, I'm pretty sad and pretty shocked to hear that this one isn't being supported to continue.
"I kind of feel like if we were going to fund anything, fund this, right?"
McGowan said the decision was made after consultation with New Zealand Search and Rescue, and with the Minister for Youth and Associate Minister of Transport James Meager.
Meager was unable to comment, but a spokesperson told RNZ that it was saddening to hear Youth Search and Rescue had made the difficult decision to close their business.
"The government has provided Youth Search and Rescue with the requested support to help wind down its operations in an orderly way and to minimise impact on students. Minister Meager has asked officials to work with Search and Rescue organisations to explore what other options are available to support young in the sector."
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport said that Youth Search and Rescue had been receiving annual government funding since 2023, which had recently been approved for a further three years - through to 2027/28.
"In recognition of Youth Search and Rescue's difficulty in securing additional funding to support their operations, the New Zealand Search and Rescue Council has been supporting the organisation, including providing their funding up-front, to give them time to secure other funding or sponsorship.
"We acknowledge the difficult decision made by Youth Search and Rescue to conclude their operations.
"We would like recognise the significant contribution they have made to the sector and to young people across New Zealand."
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