A large-scale exercise to test a police-led emergency response to an avalanche has tested the skills of search and rescue personnel.

The exercise involved about 60 personnel from Police, NZDF, Department of Conservation and New Zealand Land Search and Rescue (Land SAR) and St John New Zealand, as well as ski field and civilian helicopter operators.

Air Commodore Andrew Clark, the Air Component Commander, says a Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter flew search and rescue personnel to Mount Tongariro and contributed to a practice avalanche response as part of the police-led drill.

'It was an opportunity to exercise our unique Defence Force capabilities that support our community in emergency situations."

The NH90, which can fly in mountainous conditions and carry up to 18 passengers, demonstrated its capability during the exercise, he says.

'The response to an avalanche is time-critical and you would need air support to get rescuers and other responders to the scene as soon as it is deemed safe.”

Senior Constable Barry Shepherd, from police's Bay of Plenty District, says the exercise challenged participants from the initial reporting of the incident and assessment of the avalanche site, to search and rescue and medical evacuation.

'The key objective was to test our combined capability in responding to a major avalanche and review the overall response plan.'

A Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter flew search and rescue personnel to Mount Tongariro and contributed to a practice avalanche response as part of a police-led exercise.

Although police would lead the response to an avalanche, many organisations were involved, he says.

'It's not only about how fast we respond, which of course is critical, but also the coordination of all the different agencies involved in the emergency response.

'The different exercise activities were meant to assess all aspects of the response plan, so that we can fine-tune it before we have to deal with a real emergency.”

Personnel from New Zealand Land Search and Rescue prepare to disembark from a Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter during a police-led avalanche response exercise at Mount Tongariro.

Corporal Britney Shirriffs, a Helicopter Loadmaster from the Royal New Zealand Air Force's No.3 Squadron, provides a safety briefing to personnel from New Zealand Land Search and Rescue during a police-led avalanche response exercise.