Background information about the Civil Defence Response Team

Taupo NZ RT6

In 1986, at the request of the Taupo District Council, the Taupo District Council
Rescue Emergency Response Team was formed. Comprising of eight volunteers,
most were members of the local Land Search and Rescue team. Their desire was
to become a more multi-disciplined force in the rescue field. Since then, the
number of members has increased, they continue to train regularly and attend
Civil Defence competitions.

In 2003 Taupo District Council decided to pursue Urban Search and Rescue
Response Team registration. Training and re-equipment ensued along with
additional resources to develop a flood response capability, giving the team an
opportunity to train in swift-water rescue operations.

In June 2004 Taupo District Council Rescue Emergency Response Team became
registered as NZ-RT6. This involved hundreds of man hours of training as well as
the writing of relevant Standard Operation Procedures and team policies. In the
first five months of being a registered response team, NZ-RT6 was deployed to
five operations. Most of these were as a specialist resource at flooding
incidents.

The efforts of NZ RT6's were recognised when the Mayoral Citizens
Award for services to the community was presented. This was the
first time any such award has been given to volunteers.