Photo by Daniel Clearwater.
The search and rescue exercise preceded the inaugural New Zealand Canyoning Festival held in Wanaka at the weekend and was organised by Roy Bailey, of LandSAR Wanaka, to workshop techniques and ideas.
The festival attracted 69 canyoners, and organiser Daniel Clearwater said, as the sport grew, so too did the possibility of mishaps.
Most search and rescue personnel likely to be involved in canyoning rescues were also keen canyoners in their spare time.
There are about 15,000 active canyoners worldwide, Mr Clearwater said, and he expected more to visit New Zealand as the opportunities here became more widely known.
