Northern Rescue is proud to announce Westpac NZ as the newest member of its sponsorship whānau, supporting emergency air ambulance services in the Northland region.

A long-time supporter of rescue helicopter services in Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Canterbury, Westpac NZ now joins as an Associate Sponsor of Northern Rescue in Northland, reinforcing their commitment to saving lives across Aotearoa, no matter how remote the location.

Demand for emergency air ambulance missions continues to grow. Northlanders have long seen Auckland crews in their skies, assisting with local missions. Since 2020, the two regions have worked side-by-side in the air, and now, through Northern Rescue, that collaboration becomes even stronger.

That’s because Northern Rescue has united the operations of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) and Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) under one organisation with more than 90 years of combined experience. This joint venture brings a new level of capability to emergency air services in the upper North Island.

“We’ve flown together in the skies for years. Now we’re combining our efforts on the ground too,” says Ian MacPherson, Chief Executive Northern Rescue.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Westpac NZ to the Northland team and grateful for their continued support of emergency air rescue services.

“This is about the greater good of our communities and ensuring everyone has access to the best air ambulance technology and capability day and night. These new aircraft will ensure we are running an increasingly sustainable service with the best aeromedical technology available for people in Northland.

Westpac NZ Managing Director of Product, Sustainability and Marketing, Sarah Hearn, says the extension of sponsorship to Northland just made sense.

“Rescue chopper crews do a wonderful job all day, every day, all around the country to help keep our communities safe. It’s a longstanding partnership that means a lot to us, and we’re delighted to be extending this to Northland.”

“Our teams will continue to deliver high levels of clinical care and promote equity of access across Northland, particularly in remote regions,” Ian MacPherson says.

The unification of services under Northern Rescue means communities across Northland, Auckland, and the Coromandel Peninsula now benefit from:

• More modern helicopters available across the region
• Shared expertise and resources
• Reliable and consistent responses times
• The same highly trained paramedics and pilots’ locals know and trust
• Critical care, available 24/7, 365 days a year

“Because we now have greater reach, it ensures that wherever and whenever we’re needed in Northland, we’ll be there quickly to provide the care required.”

The Northern Rescue service wouldn’t exist without the incredible generosity and commitment of its founding sponsors.

“In Northland, Northpower and Top Energy have stood alongside the service as inaugural and principal sponsors since Northern Rescue’s very first flight in 1988. Their enduring support has been instrumental in building and sustaining the Te Taitokerau’s emergency air rescue capability,” says MacPherson.

“This is a new chapter but the story is one Northlanders know well - our crews being there when it matters most. Thanks to Westpac and all our sponsors and supporters, our communities are in even safer hands.

“One important fact remains unchanged: the service remains local. This is Northlands service, shaped by decades of community support. And our mission is the same - to provide critical care when it’s needed most to Northlanders and visitors to Te Taitokerau.”

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