Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust

The Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust is a registered charity in Hastings, New Zealand. It provides a dedicated rescue helicopter service for the Hawke's Bay region, with a focus on urgent medical care.

Services

The trust says its crew helps in nearly 400 missions each year. More than 80 percent involve urgent medical help at accident scenes or moving critically ill patients between hospitals. The helicopter also supports Police operations, national search and rescue, training and public demonstrations.

Aircraft

The service now uses an Airbus H145 helicopter. Its site says the aircraft was bought with joint funding from Health New Zealand and ACC. The trust says the larger cabin gives its critical care paramedics more room to treat patients in the air. The helicopter has tail and rear cameras and onboard weather radar.

Coverage area

The service reaches from the Takapau Plains and Porangahau in the south to Waikaremoana and the Mahia Peninsula in the northeast. It runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and is free to people in the community.

Facts

• Type: regional charitable trust providing a rescue and air ambulance helicopter service
• Service started in 1984, according to the trust
• The trust says it must raise about 1.4 million dollars each year to keep the helicopter flying
• Aircraft: helicopter (Airbus H145)
• Named on the Search and Rescue Services Ltd website as a regional partner

Who it is for

The service is for anyone in the Hawke's Bay region who needs urgent medical help or a hospital transfer by air. The trust also lists mission stories, ways to donate and volunteer roles on its website.