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Most of the South Pacific lies in New Zealand’s search-and-rescue region, from the mid-Tasman Sea almost to the Equator. Locally you call the island’s emergency number; offshore, Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand runs the search — from outside New Zealand its number is +64 4 577 8030.
Vanuatu is the exception: its waters are in the French region coordinated from Nouméa (COSS Nouvelle-Calédonie). In New Caledonia and French Polynesia you dial 16.
North of the Equator, Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands lie in the US Coast Guard’s region, run by JRCC Honolulu (+1 808 535 3333, 24 hours).