In the rugged heart of New Zealand's West Coast, where cell towers are scarce and valleys run deep, the Reefton-Buller Amateur Radio Club (Branch 62) serves as a critical communications backbone. This tight-knit group of operators keeps the Buller region connected through bush, flood and earthquake.
A Club Built for the Wild
Operating across one of NZ's most challenging terrains, the club:
📡 Maintains emergency HF networks reaching isolated valleys
🚑 Partners with West Coast Rescue Helicopter and Civil Defence
🏔️ Conducts field days in Paparoa National Park
"During last year's floods, we were the only comms for 48 hours in the Inangahua Valley," says AREC Group Leader Craig Wilson ZL3ADX.
Community Through the Airwaves
The club's rhythm follows the region's tough climate:
📞 Flexible meetings (location varies - call Jeanette Croker on 021 034 6265)
📻 Saturday 8:30pm HF net on 3600kHz - a lifeline for backcountry stations
🤝 Shared knowledge between miners, trampers and tech enthusiasts
Learning in the Bush
With remote access challenges, the club offers:
✅ Mining-town focused licensing (exam supervisors travel from Nelson)
✅ Battery/solar operation workshops for off-grid comms
✅ Search & Rescue coordination training
Join the Coast's Radio Network
Contact:
📞 Kevin & Jeanette Croker (03 789 9875) - the club's husband-wife backbone
✉️ Secretary: kjcroker@xtra.co.nz
In a land where nature dictates terms, these radio operators prove that human connection can't be washed away - it just changes frequency.
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[Did You Know?]
The club's Saturday HF net regularly reaches Australia via skywave propagation. Their ZL3DYL callsign has been used to coordinate rescues in the Victoria Forest Park wilderness.
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