Coromandel gets full time rescue helicopter

A full-time rescue helicopter will be based at Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula from Boxing Day to cope with an expected growth in the number of holiday emergencies.

The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, which now operated two machines out of Mechanics Bay on the Auckland waterfront, said its second machine would offer a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service from Whitianga.

The trust said emergency calls to the Thames-Coromandel area had increased by 70 per cent in the last two or three years and the population could swell by 130,000 people over summer.

The helicopter would stay at Whitianga until the end of January.

Trust chief executive Bob Parkinson said the trust last summer flew 40 missions to the Thames-Coromandel area and to Great Barrier Island.

"We had to turn down another 10 because the helicopter was already in use attending to someone else.

"Having a dedicated rescue chopper based at Whitianga will reduce response times to emergencies, helping the local first response service, police, search and rescue and fire deal with the huge demand that comes with the influx of people to the area during the summer holidays."

The additional $50,000 cost of having the machine at Whitianga for five weeks would be met by sponsors.

Mr Parkinson said this summer would be the 27th year as a helicopter crewman for Greg Brownson, now general manager of helicopter services.

The Vietnam war veteran joined as a volunteer crewman when the service was run by the Auckland Surf Lifesaving Association. He has been on more than 1800 missions.

- NZPA