Hopes new vehicles will benefit New Zealand's search and rescue dogs in alpine environments

INEOS Automotive is providing two 4-by-4s for Search and Rescue Dogs Avalanche to use in the South Island's ski areas.

The Grenadier vehicles are equipped with dog kennels, Wifi communications and made of lightweight materials.

National coordinator Karyn Robertson says ski area transport's had to be used in the past, as most handlers are based there.

She says the new vehicles are intended to be for emergency response - and will deploy the dogs in places they previously wouldn't have been able to