�־�� - Safety

What are the rules around taking photos or filming in a public place?

kfbb93 — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:27:40 +0000

It is generally lawful to take photographs of people in public places without their consent. However, you must not film or take photos of people if they are in a place where they can expect privacy (such as a public changing area or toilet) and that person:

is naked, in underclothes, showering, toileting etc
is unaware of being filmed or photographed
has not given consent to be filmed or photographed.

You should not take photos of people if:

they are in a place where they would expect reasonable privacy and publication would be highly offensive to an objective and reasonable person
it has potential to stop other people's use and enjoyment of the same place
you have no legitimate reason for taking the film or photos.

However, you can take and/or publish photos or film of people where there is no expectation of privacy, such as a beach, shopping mall, park or other public place.

Audience:

Victims of crime

My friend/family member is a New Zealander travelling overseas and I haven't heard from them. How do I find him/her?

webadmin — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:27:33 +0000

In many countries the communication network is often difficult to access, and language barriers make it difficult to maintain contact.

In cases where there are genuine fears for the person's safety, or concerns for their welfare, that are justified, a missing person report can be made at any Police Station within New Zealand. If fears for safety are only based on the fact the family has lost contact with each other then that is not justification to commence an overseas investigation. For these matters, contact the Salvation Army Family Tracing Service for people born in a Bethany Hospital, or Private Investigators.

When making the report at a Police Station you should include the following:

the missing person's full name and date of birth
a full description of the missing person
a recent photograph of the missing person
details of where and when they were last seen or heard from
details of any bank accounts and credit cards that the missing person may be using
the missing person's cell phone number and email address
details of any vehicle they may be using or travelling in
names and contact details of friends and associates
any relevant medical/mental health information
any known travel plans or destinations
details of anyone in the company of the missing person
details of any enquiries you have made to locate the person yourself. Information about whether the person is resident in New Zealand or travelling (temporarily overseas). If travelling please try to provide an itinerary.

For more information see missing persons.

Audience:

Concerned neighbours/friends/relatives

Can I call 111 from a satellite phone?

webadmin — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:27:28 +0000

No you can't, you need to call +64 9 571 2800.

This will put you in touch with �־�� who will pass information about your emergency to the appropriate Emergency Service.

Audience:

Trampers/climbers/hunters/boaties

If I get lost and need Search and Rescue, will I have to pay?

webadmin — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:27:28 +0000

No, rescued people are not expected to pay. We prefer to educate and alert people to the potential risks and encourage people to plan and take responsibility for themselves.

We want people to request help if they are in distress or if their loved ones are missing.

We don’t want people hiding from us to avoid costs.However, if there is evidence of recklessness Police may lay charges and seek costs.

Search and Rescue operations are funded by a number of government agencies including Police. It is a service provided to make our outdoors safer for New Zealanders and overseas visitors to enjoy.

For more information visit:

Audience:

Trampers/climbers/hunters/boaties

I'm going tramping/hunting/boating. Do you recommend I take a personal locator beacon?

webadmin — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:27:27 +0000

Police recommends you take a distress beacon* with you when you are in the outdoors in areas where you know mobile phone coverage will be unreliable or if you are unsure. While New Zealand’s mobile phone coverage network is good in urban areas, it’s unlikely you’ll have reliable coverage in the backcountry or in marine areas.

Distress beacons can be hired from many outdoor tramping or hunting stores. If boating, take a marine VHF radio.

Ensure you know how to use it before you leave and register your beacon to help store your information for rescue services.

More information on communication devices for the outdoors is available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council, Coastguard and AdventureSmart.

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*A distress beacon (personal locator beacon) is a small electronic device that, on activation, broadcasts a signal to a satellite. This signal alerts the New Zealand Rescue Co-Ordination Centre that you are in distress.

Get information about buying or hiring, registering and using distress beacons from the Rescue Coordination Centre website | Maritime New Zealand.

Audience:

Trampers/climbers/hunters/boaties

My friend/family member contacted me to say they felt suicidal but I'm not able to go and check on them. What should I do?

webadmin — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:27:24 +0000

If you are in New Zealand call 111 and ask to speak to Police. Provide the call-taker with full details of yourself and your friend/family member. Include details of how the person has contacted you, for example; cell phone numbers, email address or social network sites. The call-taker will help you assess the level of risk and initiate appropriate action.

If overseas, speak with your local police who will make enquiries through Interpol.

Audience:

Concerned neighbours/friends/relatives

My friend/family member is in New Zealand (but is not a New Zealander) and I haven't heard from them. What should I do?

webadmin — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:27:24 +0000

Genuine fears for the persons safety must exist before �־�� will commence a search. If the only fears for safety are the fact the family has lost contact with the person, then this is not sufficient.

If you want to report a person missing in New Zealand, from a location outside New Zealand, you should report the person missing to local police in your country. They will send a request for investigation to �־�� via Interpol channels. Or alternatively you can make a report through your embassy or consular office in New Zealand.

�־�� does not accept missing persons reports from overseas by email, phone or post. We only accept missing person reports through the channels above, as they are able to verify who you are and that the reasons for the report are genuine.

You will need to provide:

the missing person's full name and date of birth
a full description of the missing person
a recent photograph of the missing person
details of where and when they were last seen or heard from
details of any bank accounts and credit cards that the missing person may be using
the missing person's cell phone number and email address
details of any vehicle they may be using or travelling in
names and contact details of friends and associates
any relevant medical/mental health information
any known travel plans or destinations
details of anyone in the company of the missing person
details of any enquiries you have made to locate the person yourself. Information about whether the person is resident in New Zealand or travelling (temporarily overseas). If travelling please try to provide an itinerary.

Audience:

Concerned neighbours/friends/relatives

I haven't been able to contact my friend/family member. Can you check to see if they're okay?

webadmin — Mon, 03 May 2010 16:27:23 +0000

If you have simply lost touch, and there are no unusual circumstances, Police will not commence a search as we do not provide a family tracing service.

If you have made some attempt to find your friend/relative and you hold genuine fears for their safety, which can be justified, you should report them missing to your local police, in person. As part of taking a missing persons report, we need to be able to verify who you are and that the reasons for making the report are genuine. When making a missing persons report you should try to provide:

the missing person's full name and date of birth
a recent photograph of the missing person
details of where and when they were last seen or heard from
a full description of the missing person
details of any vehicle they may be using or travelling in
names and contact details of friends and associates
any relevant medical/mental health information
details of any bank accounts and credit cards that the missing person may be using
the missing person's cell phone number and email address
any known travel plans or destinations
details of anyone in the company of the missing person
details of any enquiries you have made to locate the person yourself.

Audience:

Concerned neighbours/friends/relatives

�־����� - Safety

What are the rules around taking photos or filming in a public place?

My friend/family member is a New Zealander travelling overseas and I haven't heard from them. How do I find him/her?

Can I call 111 from a satellite phone?

If I get lost and need Search and Rescue, will I have to pay?

I'm going tramping/hunting/boating. Do you recommend I take a personal locator beacon?

My friend/family member contacted me to say they felt suicidal but I'm not able to go and check on them. What should I do?

My friend/family member is in New Zealand (but is not a New Zealander) and I haven't heard from them. What should I do?

I haven't been able to contact my friend/family member. Can you check to see if they're okay?

�־�� - Safety