Disaster 'shows need for rescue helicopters'

The Government should learn from the Asian tsunami and cancel proposals to shrink the rescue helicopter fleet, says National MP Tony Ryall.

Local communities are mobilising to fight proposals that will see three of four central North Island rescue helicopters eliminated.

Last month, ACC released a draft national air ambulance strategy for public consultation proposing a better standard of helicopter emergency medical services coverage, with crews of advanced paramedics and closer integration with hospital emergency departments and intensive care teams.

Under the proposal, air ambulances would be based in Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton or Tauranga, Hastings, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Local rescue helicopters would be maintained at New Plymouth, Greymouth, Gisborne, Queenstown and Invercargill.

That leaves the future of rescue craft in Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo and Palmerston North under a cloud.

Mr Ryall said if the "big one" hit the country, New Zealand would need all the helicopters and all the help it could get.

"If New Zealand is to learn anything from the tsunami tragedy, it must be the importance of adequate emergency and rescue services."

John Funnell, chief pilot for the Philips Search and Rescue Trust, agreed.

"All of us old helicopter pilots can remember many examples where we've participated in natural disasters in evacuating people and getting supplies into disaster areas - like Cyclone Bola."

The Asian tsunami could have occurred closer to New Zealand and the sea could have been washing up Auckland's Queen St, said Mr Funnell, whose trust flies aircraft from Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo and Palmerston North.

"The tsunami highlighted to us that while natural disasters of that magnitude don't come along very often, when they do you need all your resources," he said.

"You've got to have some resources in reserve."

ACC Minister Ruth Dyson's office referred the Herald to ACC for comment. An ACC spokesman said the proposal was still in the early stages and the draft strategy was open for comment until February 24.