Inspector Craig Mckay said one of SAR's biggest issues is tourists coming into the country unprepared and then entering the bush.
"A lot of people see New Zealand as a small country and see a long skinny country and are very unaware of how dynamic the land is."
McKay said tourists or anybody going into the bush should carry a personal location beacon.
Phill Simmons said another issue for SAR are mental health patients who wander off without telling anyone and get lost.
"We do a lot more urban SAR now which is searching for people with dementia, alzheimers and people who want to hurt themselves."
Simmons said mental health patients are being given location bands to prevent them from getting lost.
Police hope to release the identity of the body late Monday.