Media release

Thursday, August 12, 2010

SECOND WESTPAC RESCUE CHOPPER ADDS TO GREATER

AUCKLAND REGION’S LIFE-SAVING CAPABILITY

A two-year mission to add a second rescue helicopter to Auckland’s skies was accomplished today when the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) took delivery of a new generation BK117 machine to join its fleet providing additional life-saving services for the greater Auckland Region.

Trust CEO Bob Parkinson described the unveiling of the new machine in major sponsor Westpac livery as “extremely satisfying”.  Before around 100 guests at Queens Wharf on the waterfront, he predicted the second helicopter would enable ARHT crews to save “many more lives” in the greater Auckland region.

“The addition of this second machine to our fleet is a testament to the generosity of the people and corporates of Auckland.  With a second machine purpose-built for emergency medical services, we will potentially be able to cope with double the number of missions than we do currently.”

“Last year our rescue helicopter flew 577 missions, 13 per cent more than in 2008, and this year we’ve already seen a 15 per cent increase on that figure with more than four months to go,” Mr Parkinson says.

Mr Parkinson said demand for hospital work, search and rescue work and medical work has risen dramatically in the past two years. “We have to meet these growing demands, and fortunately our appeals for funding have resonated strongly with the public and corporates of the greater Auckland region.”

Mr Parkinson said the need for a second helicopter came into sharp focus earlier this year when three calls came into the ARHT call centre within the space of five minutes – for incidents at Waiwera, Coromandel and Warkworth.

“With two fully dedicated helicopters servicing the greater Auckland region, we are in a much better position to respond to multiple emergencies and incidents involving multiple patients.”

For more information please contact:

Bob Parkinson                                                                                John Hooper

Chief Executive                                                                               Fundraising General Manager

T: 021 736 485                                                                               T: (09) 950 7201

                                                                                                          M: 021 274 8013

Note to editors:

Photographs – a selection of high resolution photographs similar to the one attached is available by email. Please contact Melanie McKay.

Key facts about Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust:

• ARHT is the Trust that runs the Auckland based Westpac Rescue Helicopter, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year 
• Sponsors of ARHT include Westpac, One News, SKYCITY, Fuji Xerox, The Southern Trust, Russell Group, Hirepool, WorldxChange Communications, Mansons, Newstalk ZB and the ratepayers of Auckland.
• Over the 39 years it has been operating, the service has performed more than 15,000 rescues
• Last year the existing ARHT helicopter flew 577 missions
• Over the summer 17 of those missions were to Franklin, 33 were to Rodney and 37 to Thames-Coromandel.