NEW ZEALAND COMPUTER STOLEN Theft devastates Wanaka volunteers | Otago Daily Times Online:

Theft devastates Wanaka volunteers
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By Marjorie Cook on Mon, 16 Mar 2009
Your Town: Wanaka | News: Queenstown Lakes

Wanaka volunteers who risk their lives to save others are gutted thieves stole their laptop computer, containing valuable search-and-rescue records, along with dozens of bottles of wine and merino clothing from a tent at the Upper Clutha A and P Show on Friday.

The Wanaka LandSAR team works closely with Wanaka police, so have good friends on their side investigating the thefts from fundraising supporter PGG Wrightson's hospitality tent at the showgrounds.

The wine and clothing were donated by community groups and organisations to be auctioned in a fundraiser on Saturday while the laptop, which is covered in LandSAR stickers, was set up for a public presentation.

Wanaka LandSAR spokesman Phil Melchior said yesterday the auction went ahead with other prizes that had not been stolen, such as boat trip vouchers, meatpacks and firewood, to raise $4200.

But the result could have been much better if all the items were available, Mr Melchior said.

It is the third year in a row that PGG Wrightson has assisted Wanaka LandSAR with fundraising and the organisation is also upset by the fundraising setback, Mr Melchior said.

"This year they were trying to put in a particularly big effort to kick off our fundraising campaign for new communications equipment.

The Morgan Saxton [helicopter accident, Lake Wanaka, November] and Irina Yun [missing tramper presumed dead, Dart Hut, December 31] searches revealed there were holes in our communications and we need a new repeater and other stuff.

PGG and [farmer/pilot/volunteer] Charlie Ewing had helped get the stuff together.

"The thieves stole quite a lot of pinot noir wine and some items of clothing, such as Icebreaker jackets . . . To say we are irked by this is the understatement of the year," Mr Melchior said.

Wanaka Sergeant Cam Sigley, who is also a LandSAR volunteer, said yesterday while losing the laptop itself was not the end of the world, the information on it was very important.

The maps, records and other information contained on the computer have been backed up, so the information is not completely lost.

Even so, Sgt Sigley is hoping someone with a guilty conscience might like to return the computer.

Sgt Sigley said it was of no use to anyone else because the computer was locked and the harddrive would have to be replaced to make the computer work properly.

"It is an extremely disappointing and frustrating situation for our volunteers to find themselves in, most noticeably because of the nature of the event that was taking place.

"A good percentage of the money raised will now have to be spent replacing the gear taken," Sgt Sigley said.

"It is not worth anything to anyone else but it is worth a hell of a lot to us," he said.