Rescue emergency support team

Palmerston North's rescue emergency support team (REST) is one of 18 nationally accredited volunteer crews in the country. Whether helping during extreme weather, civil defence emergencies or search and rescue. the Palmy REST team are there, ready and able to lend a hand.

Providing support to emergency services

The team is run by Palmerston North City Council. It provides support to emergency services across the Manawatū region for situations including:

  • civil defence emergency management
  • evacuation assistance
  • light urban search and rescue
  • flood response
  • severe weather events
  • swift water or high angle rope rescue or recovery
  • reconnaissance, impact assessment, survey and information gathering
  • community welfare needs.

Our REST team can provide emergency response support anywhere in New Zealand if requested. Past assignments to other areas have included providing assistance after the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 and during the Nelson wildfires in 2019.

Have you got what it takes?

REST team members:

  • undergo regular training to maintain skills to the highest level
  • are committed and dedicated
  • complete nationally and internationally recognised qualifications
  • work well under pressure
  • enjoy working in a team environment.

Joining the team

From time to time we open applications for new team members. The best way to find out when applications open, as well as to find out more about what the team is doing, is to follow our REST page on Facebook