Veteran ambulance officer Stephen Smith has left his role as St John district operations manager to take up a frontline paramedic position in Wairoa.
He is pictured at his farewell function, hugging colleague Brendon Hutchinson.
Mr Smith and wife Rose will leave their Hastings home next month and start "living the dream" by moving into their holiday home at Mahia.
Mr Smith was appointed Hawke's Bay district operations manager in 2007 He ran ambulance services throughout Hawke's Bay, Gisborne and Taupo.
He received a bravery medal for his work during the Napier siege - helping to remove injured police officers while under fire. He was also recognised for winching into choppy seas to rescue a yachtsman in 2011.
