Westpac to the rescue

The Auckland rescue helicopter has secured vital sponsorship for another five years.

Westpac announced yesterday that it is renewing its contract to sponsor the helicopter, which provides rescue services to 1.3 million people in Greater Auckland.
The bank is the helicopter's main sponsor.

The helicopter has flown nearly 400 missions this year, from transporting car accident victims to hospital to winching people from boating accidents.

It began operating 34 years ago and has done 12,500 jobs since, covering the region from Te Hana in the north to Meremere in the south, and including the Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki Gulf islands.

When launched in 1970, the helicopter was the world's first civilian rescue helicopter.

It has never had an accident.

The service employs a crew of 20, including pilots, advanced paramedics and flight crew.

The helicopter can be airborne six minutes after an emergency call and takes less than 30 minutes to reach the furthest reaches of the region.

If an injured person is transferred to hospital within an hour of an accident - known as the "golden hour" - it increases his or her chance of survival by 30 to 60 per cent. 

The helicopter is run by the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust.

The chief executive, Rea Wikaira, said the trust was thrilled that the Westpac bank had committed to sponsoring the service for another five years. He said the money would allow the trust to plan better for the future.

HOLIDAY WATCH

The Herald will be covering the work of rescue helicopters across our circulation region over the holidays.

To make a donation, call:

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (Westpac helicopter), ph (09) 303-1508

Trustpower TECT rescue helicopter, Rotorua, ph 0800 11-10-10

Lion Foundation rescue helicopter, Taupo (07) 378-8074

Tenon rescue helicopter, Rotorua (07) 348-8556

Northland Electricity rescue helicopter, Whangarei (025) 233-0419

Eastland Rescue Helicopter Trust, Gisborne (06) 868-3283

Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter, Hastings (06) 870-8703

Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust, New Plymouth (06) 753-7620