Purpose This study examines how search and rescue (SAR) organisations operate in practice and identifies recurring patterns in SAR exercise evaluations across Aotearoa New Zealand. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative document analysis was conducted on 98 Category 1 search and rescue exercise (SAREx) evaluation reports produced between 2011 and 2025 across New Zealand Police districts. Analysing reports spanning fourteen years allowed the identification of recurring themes and patterns in capability, doctrine use and organisational learning to be identified across exercises. Findings The analysis identified persistent system-wide challenges, including inconsistent doctrine application, variability in planning and tasking, information management difficulties, capability asymmetries and uneven organisational learning. Originality/value This study provides the first national synthesis of SAREx evaluations and demonstrates how exercise reports can function as a longitudinal evidence base for understanding capability and organisational learning within volunteer-dependent emergency management systems.
Curd et al. (Fri,) studied this question.