Michelle Webb-Atkinson from WanderSearch with one of its clients from Auckland who wears a bracelet. Photo / Greg Bowker
Michelle Webb-Atkinson from WanderSearch with one of its clients from Auckland who wears a bracelet. Photo / Greg Bowker
The Herald is profiling 12 charities awarded $10,000 each from Auckland Airport’s Twelve Days of Christmas community giving tradition. Each grant is thanks to generous travellers who placed unwanted currency into moneyboxes dotted around the terminals in 2024.
Having a family member with dementia or an autistic child who wanders off can be frightening for family members, who may have no idea if they are hurt, lost, or in danger.
They may not know which direction they went or where to start searching.
WanderSearch Auckland is a small charity providing wearable tracking devices to people with cognitive impairment who are at risk of wandering. These can be worn as a pendant or wristband, or attached to something such as a belt, and use a simple radio frequency to help them be found more quickly.
WanderSearch Auckland works in partnership with police who can track the devices, with support from Auckland Land Search & Rescue if necessary.
“People who use our trackers can be found much faster than someone without any sort of location device,” says WanderSearch’s Auckland programme manager Michelle Webb-Atkinson.
WanderSearch planned to use the $10,000 to buy more bracelets and update some existing ones. Photo / Greg Bowker
“They enable police to direct the search in the right direction, saving considerable resources, and for those who have frail health or may be unaware of environmental hazards, the time to locate them is critical.
“Most of our clients are parents of autistic children or partners of people with dementia or in a care facility and have a tendency to wander.
“Everyone deserves to have their independence and be out and about in the community, and this provides a way to help keep them safe and give their families peace of mind.”
WanderSearch Auckland is delighted to be able to make more trackers available to people living in South Auckland, with a $10,000 grant from the Auckland Airport Twelve Days of Christmas giving programme for communities around the airport.
The grant is funded from the globe moneyboxes dotted around the airport, where travellers place spare foreign currency when they are passing through.
“We are a small charity and we’re at capacity, and we’re so grateful this money will enable us to distribute new pendants within South Auckland where, last year, we issued 175 devices and police received 86 callouts for WanderSearch clients,” Webb-Atkinson says.
“This money will enable us to buy 25 new pendants for those who need them in South Auckland and will help refurbish existing devices as they are returned.”
Auckland Airport chief corporate services officer Melanie Dooney says the airport is pleased to support WanderSearch with this great initiative, providing an extra layer of support to families and a better quality of life for the person wearing the device.
There are approximately 1,250 WanderSearch devices across the country. WanderSearch provides the units, which cost $230+GST, free, and its volunteers check the pendants every six months. Photo / Greg Bowker
“Auckland Airport is committed to being a good neighbour to the vibrant South Auckland community that we’re proud to be a part of and this is one way we can contribute.”
There are approximately 1250 WanderSearch devices across the country. WanderSearch provides the units, which cost $230+GST, free, and its volunteers check the pendants every six months to change the batteries and ensure they are working correctly.
Because they operate on radio frequency, the devices don’t need charging and the batteries last up to eight months.
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