Maritime rescue service faces overhaul

Responsibility for inshore maritime rescues could change hands as part of a government shake-up, with police possibly set to lose their role.

At present, the national Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) -- operated by Maritime New Zealand -- is mainly responsible for ocean operations requiring a large-scale co-ordination of resources.

Police deal mainly with rescues close to shore.

But Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven said today the Government was reconsidering that arrangement.

It has been reported that among proposals is one under which the RCC would take responsibility for all maritime rescues.

Mr Duynhoven would not confirm that option was on the table -- as a paper on the matter was before Cabinet -- but he said the Government was keen to clarify who had responsibility for what.

He said if the RCC was given responsibility for co-ordinating inshore searches, police would still be involved in an operational capacity.

Mr Duynhoven said the rethink had been spurred in part by problems in the response to sinking of the Iron Maiden off the coast of Northland.

Two men drowned in the incident and a helicopter did not reach the scene until three hours after a mayday call was received.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission found there was police confusion over the capabilities of the helicopter, leading to its being stood down before being dispatched.

"Maritime New Zealand are really intent on sorting out with the police who does what when, because that way you don't get the confusion that we've had," Mr Duynhoven said.

The Government was also looking at more sustainable ways to fund coastguards, which were currently run on a voluntary basis.

"The Government has put money in by way of budget, but what I've been trying to do is get the coastguard on a permanent funding footing."

One solution mooted by coastguard associations was using excise duty from fuel used by boaties to fund the service, he said.

It was reported today that Maritime New Zealand was proposing to Government it should have responsibility for all marine rescues.

"The present search and rescue system is based on a structure in which responses are classified and structured according to complexity," the proposal, obtained by Radio New Zealand, read.

"This has proven to be somewhat problematic, notably in the case of in-shore marine incidents such as the search and rescue response following the loss of the Iron Maiden, off Northland in August 2004."

Police have not commented on the proposed changes.

- NZPA