A Sense of Duty

In the winter of 1966, four climbers went to climb the Otira Face of Mount Rolleston in Arthurs Pass National Park and never returned. The search and rescue operation was one of the last large scale call outs, all on foot that saw up to a hundred volunteers navigating harsh conditions to find them.

Content warning: this series contains graphic descriptions of rescues and fatalities, as well as some strong language. If unsettling personal stories affect you, please take care while listening.

Thanks to the LandSAR volunteers who shared their stories.

Archival recordings thanks to Ngā Tāonga Sound and Vision

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details