RARO was set up in 1990 in a response to issues and concerns coming out of the Army Tragedy which occurred on Ruapehu that year.
It is a collaborative effort by 4 main organisations in the Tongariro National Park to provide alpine search and rescue services in that area.
Those organisations are the Police, Department of Conservation, Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre and Ruapehu Alpine Lifts Ltd.
They are bound by a Memorandum of Agreement which lays down details on how RARO is managed and operates.
It can be viewed here.