The trio were among a group of young men in their late teens and early 20s who took to 
the water near Kaitoke Waterworks around 1pm yesterday, heading towards the Hutt 
River Gorge. 

Police were called about 8pm when three of the group went missing after being separated 
from the group. 

Wellington police district operations manager Inspector Mike Wright said the lilo flotation 
devices the three had been travelling on had deflated and they had no lifejackets. 

A search involving the Westpac rescue helicopter was sparked, and lasted until 1am. 
It resumed at first light this morning and the three were found safe soon after. 

Mr Wright said the group had been drinking before their excursion. 

There was very little planning put into the trip and the group was ill-prepared, without 
lifejackets. Alcohol also appears to have been a factor.

The missing three were found about 7:30am near the Te Marua Golf Course, Mr Wright said. 

A large number of people assisted in the search including LandSAR volunteers, Upper Hutt
Community Rescue and Palmerston North White Water Rescue.
 
Mr Wright urged people to make sure they are well-prepared with wetsuits and lifejackets
 and suitable flotation devices for water activities.
 
Alcohol and water are a lethal cocktail and do not mix.

We want people to stay safe this summer whilst enjoying the outdoors. A small amount
 of preparation can make the difference between returning home in one piece, or not at all.

The Upper Hutt Community rescue team is back in Christchurch. It’s not only the Urban 
Search & Rescue teams who are providing Upper Hutt support for Canterb urty, but also 
Mangaroa resident Eddie Carson who immediately shipped his specialist heavy machinery 
to Lyttelton on HMNZS Canterbury. Because of their size and experience, they will be 
a key resource in the repair of broken sewage and water pipes. With them were a second 
offering from local plumbers Colin Hey and Stewart Weddell, a third of their inventory 
in portable toilets and showers. NZRT9 is back on the ground in Christchurch, but now 
in recovery mode, says leader Chris Lapsley.

It has been a nine-day deployment for the four members of Upper Hutt Community Rescue, 
officially NZ Rescue Team 9, who are due back home tomorrow (Saturday).

“There have been no surprises, “Chris said. “This time we knew what to expect.

“But it’s still a long day.” Having linked up again with the Lower Hutt team, NZRT9 
has been supporting engineers as they painstakingly assess the state of houses.

They look for the booby traps left in collapsing homes, their primary role the safety 
of the engineers. “These are yellow sticker houses; do they leave them as yellow, or 
are they upgraded to red? You never know what you’re going to find, and we’re an extra 
pair of eyes and ears on the ground,” Chris Lapsley said. “We keep them out of trouble.”

With him are Denny McArthur and Paul Godfrey, the trio flown in by RNZAF Hercules to 
Christchurch where they were joined by Upper Hutt team member Vicky Blair, who had 
to fly in from Hamilton.

They ‘travelled light’, with one bag for personals, a second for operational and personal 
protection gear. There is now a good logistical setup on the ground, and any gear or 
machinery they need is quickly forthcoming.

The team is just “happy to be achieving what we set out to do,” Chris Lapsley said.

The quartet are grateful to family and employers just to be given the opportunity. 
They are all volunteers.

“In my case,” Chris said, “I work for Aviation Security, and when they generously give 
me the time off, they have to fill my rosters.” In recovery mode, there have not been 
the dramatic rescues of fisrt time around.

Possibly the mnost significant first time was going into a house that looked okay from 
the outside, but inside the chimneys had come through the roof, and there was the 
80-year-old woman, sitting shaking on the couch. She was too afraid to move. Other 
experts were called in to take her into care.

And there was the lighter side, like the very nice house in the very nice street in 
the very nice suburb that had to be checked for damage like all houses. No apparent 
problems, but check out the garage with the open door!

12:51pm+3 hours: Upper Hutt Community Rescue is put on standby for Christchurch.
+ 9 hours: Go. That was at 10pm on Tuesday last week.
+ 11 hours: By midnight NZRT9 had their three rescue vehicles plus trailers all packed.
+ 19 hours: By 8am Wednesday, the 13-strong community-funded team was crossing the strait 
with leader Geoff Fouhy, having linked up with the council-backed Hutt City Emergency 
Response Team New Zealand Rescue Team 9 is the national designation of Upper Hutt 
Community Rescue, a national resource in time of trouble.

“It’s been a tough deployment,” says operations manager Dave Butcher, the urban search and 
rescue veteran who decided this time he could do more logistically for the team from the 
home base, ensuring they had the supplies and equipment to do their job.

“It’s been tough, it’s been tiring,” team leader Geoff Fouhy said on the last day of the 
six-day deployment.

“Our main role has been working street by street clearing houses, making certain no persons 
have been left behind, alive or otherwise,” he said. They have also been supporting the 
engineers assessing the damage, making certain they can do so in safety.

“It’s all been part and parcel of supporting the residents.”

He said the team had “gone at it with gusto”, had worked long hours and held up well, but 
they were “very tired” nearing the end of six days of climbing through rubble through 
damaged properties.

“It’s the benefit of the hours of training we’ve done, to know how to be safe, what to 
look for and where to look.”

The 13-strong Upper Hutt team were driven back on Tuesday morning, heading for a major 
debrief and formal trauma counselling. They crossed with Butcher and two others who were 
on the 6am flight to drive the rescue vehicles back to Picton for the 2pm sailing.

“That’s a safety issue,” he said, “we wouldn’t want any accidents on that long drive for 
tired guys.” “The trauma counselling is part of what we do, the whole package,” says Dave 
Butcher. “It affects people in different ways. But the last thing we want to do is for 
one of the team to hold on to stuff inside them that they should be letting go.”

After Christchurch, covering the Karapoti Mountain Biking Classic tomorrow might be 
rather boring, but as Geoff Fouhy points out, “who’s to say we may not be called back?”

As volunteers, the Upper Hutt team has their day jobs to return to, but it will be with 
the memories of working alongside all the national and international USAR teams. There 
weren’t that many chances to “mix and mingle, and learn” from the overseas teams, with 
close to 12-hour days on site. With each day finishing with a major de-brief, then it was 
generally bed, and the chance to recharge before it started all over again in the morning.

Dave Butcher is “so proud of my boys and girls.”

When they started over 15 years ago, quietly doing their stuff, they were poo-pooed, the 
“this will never happen sort of thing. “But we’ve fronted up.”

They couldn’t have done it with the wonderful support of people like Tom Jones and the 
Rimutaka Licensing Trust, who have ensured the team has the right quality gear, with an 
ongoing commitment. And guys like Dave Rangi, of Tait Mobile up on Emerald Hill who makes 
sure the team has the best of comms gear.


Reaction
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“Outstanding,” says Mayor Wayne Guppy, of NZRT9. 

“They’re up there with the best in the world.” 

The issue of Council funding of the rescue group has never really been discussed, 
Mr Guppy said. 

“These are exceptional circumstances, and as we review our overall response, this could 
be one of the things we look at.” 

Upper Hutt Community Rescue led our community’s response to The Christchurch Earthquake. 
Other groups are now doing their thing.

Helping people get their lives back on track after Queensland’s flooding was a life defining
experience for Totara Park’s Geoff Fouhy. “Queensland is a first world country, it has good 
town planning systems and robust buildings, yet the devastation that occurred was mind 
blowing – unbelievable. It was so rewarding to see the change we made – that feeling will 
stick with me forever,” he says. Geoff has just returned from Queensland where he was one 
of the 15 strong team involved in New Zealand’s first ever official volunteer international 
response deployment. “It was a big deal for New Zealand, as not only were we performing a 
critical role in tragic circumstances we were testing New Zealand’s capabilities of 
deploying volunteers in an international rescue situation,” he says. “We performed well – 
we proved we can be a significant help not only on our own back door in New Zealand in the 
time of crisis, but to Australia and the rest of the world,” he says. After Prime Minister 
John Key’s offer of help was accepted by Australia in January, nz’s Ministry of Civil 
Defence requested help from volunteers from New Zealand’s 18 response teams. Upper Hutt 
Community Rescue (know as nz response team 9) had nine people who were prepared to be 
involved on a voluntary unpaid basis. The Ministry decided to take only one from Upper Hutt 
so that the experience could be shared around the country and so that no area in the country 
would be left vulnerable if a large number of their response team members were away. 

Geoff was the one - the government department adviser, who works at a desk by day, says this 
shows that you don’t need to be a fireman, policeman or nurse to be of help. Geoff has been 
a volunteer with Upper Hutt Community Rescue since its inception 15 years ago and involved 
in community rescue for 18 years. He grabbed his passport and flew out with others from 
around New Zealand. The team went first to Condamine – a small town of 150 people – one of 
the worst affected by the first round of major flooding. They went from home to home helping 
people take up carpets, rip off wall linings, hose out houses and go through possessions. 
“We were there as much for moral support as physical,” Geoff says. “It was heart wrenching 
for people. The flood waters had been through their homes half way up the rooms so most of 
their worldly possessions had been destroyed. “Of course they wanted to keep everything 
because of sentimental 

Attachment, but they knew they couldn’t. We could help them with the decisions.” That only 
lasted two days because the rain came again. So the team began helping the people of 
Condamine move anything they had left across the Condamine River to nearby town, Miles, 
before they were again cut off by floodwaters. After the evacuation they were holed up in 
Miles for two days as it was surrounded by flood water. Miles was full with evacuees as 
well as around 70 truck and trailer units stuck there. Like the rest of the country they 
started running low on supplies, which would have been trucked in. The nz team were to have 
returned home after five days, but because of the second round of rain they were despatched 
to Dalby. Where it had flooded twice in two weeks Travelling by flood boat and then bus they 
began door knocking, going from street to street helping people with the clean up. They also 
helped co-ordinate the local emergency services such as the fire department so that the most. 

Number of people could be helped as quickly as possible. “It was a huge lift to the town,” 
Geoff says. “People were living in mud and dangerous conditions feeling that others needs 
were greater than theirs so not asking for help. But they were grateful when it was offered 
to them. Later the crew then travelled to Lowood, north of Brisbane and began cold calling 
and helping people with the same sorts of physical and emotional support. “People were living 
in terrible, dangerous environments and really appreciated what we did,” Geoff says. “It is 
unbelievable to see this type of thing in a first world country, with good town planning 
systems and good robust buildings – the devastation was mind blowing,” he says. 

Operating in full protective gear in temperatures of 30 plus degrees, with high humidity, 
mud everywhere and a “horrible smell” was hard work. “It was full on all day, voluntary and 
unpaid. Most of the team were using their annual leave to be there. “But we had a common 
bond and an amazing camaraderie formed from seeing the difference we were making. “We well 
and truly proved the worth of voluntary response teams. “I would encourage anyone interested 
volunteer community response to visit the Upper Hutt Community Rescue website www. Uhcr.Org.Nz. 
We are always looking for new men and women and it is hugely rewarding. You don’t have to be 
a doctor or a fireman.There are roles for everyone.

The Rescue Exercise – Res-Ex 09 Taupo event was a real test of rescue skills in a 
variety of situations.  Start time was noon on the Saturday and the eight tests ran till 
one am Sunday, so good lighting was essential. The eight, one hour scenarios were a 
test of many expertise areas. Teams had to navigate across Taupo area with only 15 
minutes for pack up, transition, and then15 minutes for briefing and setup. Many of 
the 1 hour events were earthquake simulations; all were challenging and represented 
the skills needed to respond in emergencies that occur in NZ. The rest tested support 
capabilities such as self sufficiency, radio communication, navigation, general knowledge 
and 4x4 driving. A very strong Wellington contingent travelled up with UHCR in an 
impressive convoy of over 20 vehicles. HVEMO (Hutt City), Tawa, and Victoria shared 
the catering and camp sites, building on the existing team work and enjoying great 
camaraderie. The Team Leader for the event was Geoff Fuohy who observed “it was 
great to see the basics being adhered to, keeping it simple, common sense with 
maximum effect in minimum time-frame”. He added “it was poetry in motion”. The 
team demonstrated relative ease through improvisation, change or “give-it-a-go” 
approaches. The competition was tight and with two events to go the result was 
still open. However in the end, UHCR won two events (“In the Bog” and “Total 
Trauma”) and won by a clear margin the overall trophy Res-Ex 2009. The foundation 
for the success was the whole team preparation, practice and willingness to do the 
behind the scenes support roles. One fully trained, junior team member stayed 
behind to ensure the 44 strong Wellington group was fed and watered in the short 
tea break. UHCR deployed a team of 14 and consistently demonstrated strength 
in first aid and casualty handling, 4x4 and terrain management, rescue skills and 
most importantly the ability to be self sufficient and provide welfare for the extended 
team. Highlights included camping in canvas under a clear sky with the temperature 
well below zero; exploring Taupo industrial, commercial, park and wild areas; enjoying 
the strong relationships with the Wellington teams; and the opportunity to apply the 
rescue skills in realistic situations. Thanks go to Civil Defence for creating the event 
and in particular to the Taupo Civil Defence group who organised an excellent 
competition on top of two local real civil defence states in the previous two months. 
Res-Ex 09 was open to the 18 New Zealand rescue teams. Eight teams gathered in 
Delaney Park, Taupo, fully self sufficient and geared to respond to any likely scenario.
UHCR had a very mixed team, the youngest and oldest and 5 of the 14 women. We 
always welcome new members in many roles, if interested contact Dave Butcher, 
Ops Manager on 027 443 0840 or email info@uhcr.org.nz. Our website is 
www.uhcr.org.nz

 The search for Jacek Grzybowski, 28, resumed at first light today. Police believe 
he could still be alive despite nearly a week out in the open. Mr Grzybowski was 
last seen around 9am on Saturday, by residents in Sunny Grove, Wainuiomata, seeking 
directions for the start of the Whakanui Track which runs from the street into the 
Rimutaka Forest Park.  He was equipped only for a day tramp. Police said today that 
he has still not been located. He has spent six nights in the open. Search leader 
Inspector Mike Wright said the field teams now included volunteers from Wellington, 
Wairarapa, Palmerston North, Horowhenua and Tararua.  The Upper Hutt community rescue 
team had 14 search specialists planning the activity from their base. "It's a big 
logistical operation with an intensive search effort to find Jacek," he said. "The 
help we've had from community groups like the Salvation Army with catering and the 
Hutt Valley Emergency Management office with additional equipment is a great support 
to those doing the hard physical activity on the ground." Seven of the 10 search teams 
will probably stay in the bush overnight. Mr Grzybowski's flatmates, also Polish, 
became increasingly worried when he did not return home on Saturday evening. They had 
not been sure what to do and on Tuesday told their employer, who contacted police.  
"If he's hunkered down under bush and fern cover and keeping warm then it is survivable," 
Mr Wright said.  An Air Force Iroquois helicopter will again be used today to help drop 
ground search  teams into remote areas of the park and to undertake aerial searches.  
It was believed Mr Grzybowski hoped to tramp to Mt Matthews and back, he said.  The 
demanding tramp was unlikely to have been achieved in one day.  Police were still 
appealing to trampers, hunters and other bush users who were in the park over the 
weekend to contact police if they saw Mr Grzybowski.  Mr Grzybowski was described 
as 180cm tall, with brown/blond hair and of medium build.  He arrived in Wellington 
in February on a working holiday and has spent most weekends exploring bush and 
coastal tracks in the Wellington region. Some of his family are expected to arrive 
in Wellington at the weekend.  A police spokeswoman said today the disappearance 
had some similarities to that of missing Wellington woman Kaye Stewart in 2005.
On June 13, 2005, Mrs Stewart, then 62, vanished after asking a Conservation Department 
worker for directions in the Rimutaka Forest Park, near Wainuiomata. She was never found.

In an uncanny stroke of luck, a man stuck on top of his four wheel-drive in the 
Hutt river was spotted and saved by a swiftwater rescue expert. Derek Brenchley 
was just the ma to help Dion Climo, who had benn sitting on his 4WD for more 
than three hours before being rescued on Wednesday night. Mr Brenchley - a 
swftwater rescue specialist  - was walking with his dogs besdie state highway 
2 about 8 pm when he heard the man shouting for helpover the sound of traffic. 
He followed the cries. "When I found him, the vehicle was on its side in the 
middle of the river and he was on top of it. He was sitting on the door of the 
vehicle, huddled in his jacket." The river was flowing swiftly and Mr Climo would 
have been swept away if he had tried to leave his vehicle. Mr Brenchley called 
111 and police arrived. A descision was made to hand the rescue mission over 
to Upper Hutt Community Rescue, of which Mr Brenchley is a team leader.
Once the necessary equipment had arrived, he swam to Mr Climo with a line, 
"kitted him up" with lifejacket and helmet and helped him back to land. Fellow 
community rescuer Dave Butcher said it was a "huge coincidence" that 
Mr Brenchley happened to walk past. In all, eight people helped in the rescue 
effort. Mr Climo, who was not injured, said he had been driving the 4WD across 
the river when it rolled. It travelled about 200 metres downstream before it came 
to a rest and he climbed on top.