What is a system? A system can be defined as a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole, in particular a set of things working together as parts of a mechanism or an interconnecting network. The systems approach was already partially in use in rope rescue so the team has added to and clarified this process. Ultimately the SARINZ instructing team wanted to come up with a new way of operating that could move us past current constraints and improve what we were doing. That is, step back from the detail and see if we can arrange and organise the technical information into a useful structure to gain greater understanding. Why the systems approach? When the SARINZ team first started thinking about the issue of a lot of detailed information but nowhere to put it we considered the approach that many scientists and organisations undertake. The Six Systems of Rope Rescue is not gear, technique or environment centric so can adapt to most things teams are undertaking or using. The Six Systems of Rope Rescue has also developed into a framework that can be used for the effective teaching of material, development of standards based assessment, deployment of equipment and application of techniques during a rescue.

These six systems, we think, completes the core rope rescue systems for the vast majority of operations that are undertaken. We have added another three the Belay System, Directional System and Load System. The rope rescue systems of Anchor System, Pulley System and Lowering System have long been used. During this development phase SARINZ came across an issue a lot of detailed information but in many cases nowhere to put it. 1 The Six Systems of Rope Rescue (or The Systems Approach to Rope Rescue) Grant Prattley, Programme Manager Rescue, Search and Rescue Institute New Zealand (SARINZ) Cell:, Phone:, Web: Introduction Over the past few years the team at SARINZ has been developing books, manuals, and training material for a variety of organisations undertaking wilderness and industrial rescue including the United States Antarctic Programme, Australian Antarctic Division, Antarctica New Zealand, New Zealand Land Search and Rescue, Department of Conservation and the New Zealand Fire Service.

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