Police have so far failed to respond to a request for information on what they have spent on search and rescue missions in recent years.
RNZ News sought the information in September, after reporting that rescue crews throughout the country were responding to more jobs involving tourists ill-prepared for the New Zealand environment.
Police figures showed then that of nearly 9,000 land and sea incidents since 2010, 1400 involved tourists.
An Official Information Act request was made for police search and rescue budgets and expenditure over the past five years, and whether more money would be needed.
Official searches are activated by the police and the Rescue Coordination Centre, and are supported by a network of volunteers throughout the national organisation Landsar.
