Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust

The Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust is the charity responsible for providing an emergency rescue helicopter service to the Taranaki regional community in New Zealand. When there is a life threatening emergency, the helicopter provides fast, lifesaving air rescue and medical service.

The trust's helicopter helps people in the Taranaki region who face a life threatening emergency or who need to be moved to another hospital. It is a community rescue helicopter, supported by local donors and sponsors.

From January to December 2025, the helicopter flew 341 missions. Of these, 125 were emergency, accident, and medical missions. Another 194 were hospital transfers, and 22 were search and rescue missions. Total flight time for the year was 460 hours.

The helicopter is based in the hangar complex at Taranaki Base Hospital in New Plymouth. Patients are not charged for the service. It depends on community support to keep flying.

The trust asks people to donate, become corporate sponsors, or fundraise for the service. Sponsors include the TOI Foundation, the TET Foundation, NZCT, Taranaki Offshore Partnership, Methanex, Baker Tilly, Wood Group, Connect Legal Taranaki, Fujifilm, Primo, and MoreFM.

Families and patients who were helped by the crew share their stories publicly. These stories show how the service works in emergencies across the region.

The trust also has pages for its board, its crew, the helicopter, and its sponsors. Support can be given through donations, corporate sponsorship, and fundraising events.

Services

• Emergency air rescue
• Medical air response
• Hospital transfers
• Search and rescue
• Corporate sponsorship
• Donations
• Fundraising
• Mission stories