A small part of the crowd which flocked to the rescue helicopter meeting in Whitianga on Saturday.
A small part of the crowd which flocked to the rescue helicopter meeting in Whitianga on Saturday.
Between 2500 and 3000 people gathered last Saturday at the Coromandel rescue helicopter base in Whitianga to protest the closure of the base in a restructure of all air ambulance services in New Zealand by the Ministry of Health and ACC.
People from all over the Coromandel Peninsula and further afield attended the meeting.
The rescue helicopter bases in Rotorua, Taupo and Te Anau are also facing closure.
The aim of the restructure is to introduce twin engine rescue helicopters across New Zealand and to have a paramedic as part of all helicopter crews.
The Coromandel rescue helicopter base is owned and maintained by the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust, but operated by the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust.
A twin engine helicopter is stationed full-time at the base, as well as a crew of a pilot, paramedic and crewman.
The base, which cost more than $600,000 to build, was paid for with community funding.
Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust Chairman Walter Russell told the crowd that the state of the art facility in Whitianga already provided what the Ministry of Health and ACC were trying to achieve.
"If we lose the base, we'll be going back 10 years. All we will end up with are longer response times to emergencies on the Coromandel Peninsula.
"There's no upside for us whatsoever. Why should we accept less than what we have now?"
The meeting was also addressed by Coromandel MP Scott Simpson, Opposition spokesperson for ACC Tim Macindoe, Thames Coromandel District Council Mayor Sandra Goudie, Hauraki District Council Deputy Mayor Toby Adams and Andy Corles, a Te Rerenga tetraplegic and former rescue helicopter patient.
Opposition spokesman for Health Michael Woodhouse pledged his support for the base to remain open in a statement read by Mr Macindoe.
Earlier last week Leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges visited the base and said that the National Party would back the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust's effort to keep the base open.
All MPs were invited to the meeting.
A small part of the crowd which flocked to the rescue helicopter meeting in Whitianga on Saturday.
No one from the Labour Party, the Green Party or New Zealand First attended.
The government's lack of engagement on the issue generated a feeling of frustration and, in some instances, anger among the crowd on Saturday.
"If the Ministry of Health and ACC know something we don't, they must share it with us," Mr Russell said after the meeting.
"A very strong message was sent to the government that the people of the Coromandel won't take the closure of the Coromandel rescue helicopter base lying down."
