Summarised by Centrist
The government announced an annual $700,000 funding boost for Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCCNZ), increasing staffing from 16 to 20 full-time equivalents. This “urgently needed investment,” according to Transport Minister Simeon Brown, ensures the centre can maintain its 24/7 operations.
RCCNZ manages one of the world’s largest search-and-rescue areas, spanning 30 million square kilometres. It responds to 1,500 annual incidents, with demand tripling over the past decade.
