About Locator Beacons New Zealand
Making Personal Locator Beacons Accessible Since 1996
The Southland Locator Beacons Charitable Trust was established in Tuatapere in 1996 by a group of people who recognized the need for an affordable personal locator beacon hire service in New Zealand.
Their purpose was simple: make reliable emergency beacons accessible to people exploring, travelling and working beyond dependable mobile coverage.
That original community initiative developed into New Zealand’s first personal locator beacon hire agency, operating today as Locator Beacons New Zealand. We now provide more than 680 ACR personal locator beacons through 87 active hire outlets across the country. Every hire beacon includes a protective pouch and belt.
We also sell New Zealand-coded ACR personal locator beacons through our online shop, helping customers choose dependable emergency equipment without ongoing subscription fees.
Since 1996, our focus has remained the same — helping people prepare for emergencies and giving search and rescue authorities the best possible chance of locating them when help is needed.
What We Do
Locator Beacons New Zealand is operated by the Southland Locator Beacons Charitable Company. Our purpose is to make reliable personal locator beacons affordable and accessible throughout New Zealand.
We provide ACR personal locator beacons for hire through a nationwide network of verified outlets. Every hire beacon includes a protective pouch and belt, along with the information needed to carry and operate it correctly.
We also sell New Zealand-coded ACR personal locator beacons through our online shop and provide practical guidance about beacon registration, carrying, testing and emergency use.
Our work supports trampers, hunters, boaties, farmers, forestry workers, outdoor professionals and anyone travelling or working beyond reliable mobile coverage.
How Our Hire Service Works
Every hire is recorded to a responsible adult, along with current contact details and an agreed return date.
If a beacon is not returned by the agreed deadline and an extension has not been arranged, our administration team follows up using the hire information to establish whether the party is safe.
If a hired beacon is activated, Locator Beacons New Zealand can provide the relevant hire details to the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand. RCCNZ and the appropriate emergency services coordinate the search and rescue response.
Customers whose plans change should contact us before their return deadline so an extension can be arranged and unnecessary overdue follow-up can be avoided.
John Munro recognised with New Zealand Search and Rescue Gold Award
On 16 May 2023, John Munro of Locator Beacons New Zealand received the 2022 New Zealand Search and Rescue Gold Award for Support Activity at Parliament in Wellington. The award was presented by Hon Kiri Allan, Associate Minister of Transport, in recognition of John’s service and sustained commitment to search and rescue.
John has been involved with the Southland Locator Beacons Charitable Company and its parent Trust since their establishment in 1996. He became Chairperson of the Trust in 1997 and played a central role in developing New Zealand’s first personal locator beacon hire agency, now operating as Locator Beacons New Zealand.
During the organization's early years, John worked to establish hire outlets and increase public awareness of personal locator beacons. He spoke with outdoor, community and user groups throughout New Zealand, helping people understand that emergency beacons could be affordable and accessible to those travelling or working beyond reliable mobile coverage.
The official award citation recognized John’s significant contribution to making personal locator beacons available to New Zealanders and described Locator Beacons New Zealand as the country’s largest personal locator beacon hire agency.
That work continues today. As at September 2026, Locator Beacons New Zealand operates through 87 active hire outlets and maintains more than 680 ACR personal locator beacons for hire nationwide.
John remains closely involved in the organization and continues working to make personal locator beacons accessible to people exploring, travelling and working in New Zealand’s remote areas.
Read the official New Zealand Search and Rescue award announcement