Northland's rescue chopper fundraising campaign launched

Northland Rescue Helicopter pilot Steve Couchman has been with the service 14 years and in that time has flown well over 1000 patients.

This year's Northland Rescue Helicopter fundraising appeal is under way and it coincides with the services 30th anniversary.

At the same time, the service is facing its biggest change in three decades.

A contract is in the pipeline that will see the Northland and Auckland air ambulance services merge early next year as a response to the Government's new emergency services funding policy.

The Government's contribution has always only partially funded the service and money raised in Northland will cover this financial year's annual operational shortfall, as it always has, Northland Emergency Services Trust (Nest) chairman Paul Ahlers said.

Northland's community funded and supported helicopters would stay in the region and the base remain in Whangārei after the proposed merger.

Northland would also have equal representation when the trusts combine.

The first flight left from Kaitaia Hospital on November 17, 1988, and since then the service has flown more than 20,000 missions and helped saved thousands of lives.

The fundraising campaign will again call on the public for support because without money raised at grassroots level, there would be no choppers in the air, Ahlers said.

Until the end of November, the service will be involved in numerous activities throughout Kaipara, Whangarei and Far North, paying tribute to thousands of lives saved, and those lost, since that first flight from Kaitaia.

Last year $307,000 in public donations was raised, and the aim is to raise a similar amount this year due to the increasing operational costs facing the air ambulance service.

As for this public appeal, Northland electricity lines companies Northpower and Top Energy will contribute $100,000 and $50,000 respectively, as well as run the campaign.

Northpower chief executive Andrew McLeod and Top Energy's Russell Shaw said an air ambulance service is vital to the wellbeing of Northlanders.

Ahlers said Northpower and Top Energy had sponsored the service since day one.

''We could not have got this service off the ground without them. Their support has been critical to us – just as support from other businesses and members of the public has been over three decades.

"We are also really appreciative of the on-going support we receive from Northland Regional Council.''

That backing was key to the service being able to afford to upgrade its helicopter fleet.

Ahlers said the world-class quality and strength of the existing services in the northern region was a direct testament to the level of support from their communities.