The West Coast’s first H145 Westpac Rescue Helicopter is being officially welcomed to the region at an event at the GCH Aviation Air Rescue Base in Greymouth.

The event on Wednesday 13 May is being attended by approximately 70 people including the region’s three Mayors, representatives from other emergency services, the Rapid Relief Team, Westpac representatives, and supporters of the rescue helicopter service.

Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust Chair Murray Willocks says this is a milestone moment for the West Coast.

“We promised we would deliver the West Coast a world-class rescue helicopter service. That is what this rescue helicopter will help provide.”

This is the West Coast’s first dedicated H145 rescue helicopter, one of three purchased for the Canterbury and West Coast service by the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust. It’s also the first time the iconic red Westpac Rescue Helicopter will be flying along the Coast.

Westpac has sponsored the Canterburybased rescue helicopter for more than 30 years. Willocks says their partnership with Westpac has become central to the strength of the service.

Westpac NZ Managing Director of Product, Sustainability and Marketing, Sarah Hearn, says the bank is delighted to extend its support of the life-saving service to more South Island communities.

“Rescue chopper crews do a wonderful job all day, every day, and often in challenging conditions to help keep our communities safe. We’re immensely proud of this longstanding partnership and we’re delighted to be extending it,” Ms Hearn says.

“We already fund the nationwide marketing and administration costs of Chopper Appeal month every May, which is in full swing at the moment as we look to beat our record fundraising total of $1.5m from last year. By extending our sponsorship arrangements we’re deepening our involvement and helping keep more Kiwi communities safe.”

The West Coast has been home to a helicopter rescue service since 1995, when GCH Aviation established an air rescue base there. It was first serviced by a Squirrel helicopter, before being replaced by a BK117.

For the last 12 years the West Coast service has been sponsored by ROA Mining. ROA Mining is now supporting the rescue helicopter’s sister service, the NZ Flying Doctor Service, as principal sponsor of the NZ Flying Doctor’s Christchurch-based planes.

“We recognise and thank ROA for their steadfast support of the rescue helicopter and their continuing commitment to the health and wellbeing of the West Coast through sponsorship of the NZ Flying Doctor Service,” Willocks says.

West Coast Critical Care Paramedic Rod Partington says the arrival of the H145 rescue helicopter creates a fundamental shift in how they manage patients.

“Going from a BK117 to the H145 rescue helicopter is like going from a Ford Cortina to a Tesla – it’s a massive leap forward. We have more room to move, the clinical layout is far more functional, and its advanced avionics increase safety and reliability. The H145 is built for saving lives," Partington says.

The H145 Airbus helicopter is the gold standard in air rescue. Its advanced avionics and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) capability will enable the crew to fly more often in more adverse weather. The larger cabin provides more space to give critical care, tail and rear mounted cameras improve visibility, while a weather radar helps pilots avoid dangerous weather during flights.

The purchase of the three H145 rescue helicopters was the cornerstone of the Trust’s MISSION 2026 campaign. That campaign aimed to transform rescue helicopter services across the region. As well as purchasing state-of-the-art helicopters, the Trust has invested significantly in the development of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) routes across Canterbury and the West Coast, as well as crew training and specialist medical equipment for the new machines. The Trust has also invested in a sophisticated H145 cockpit and winch simulator, to support pilot training and IFR development.

“We have delivered for the West Coast the most advanced rescue helicopter and the latest technology to support the exceptional crews who serve it. Our most heartfelt thanks to our community who, with every donation, has brought us one step closer to this transformation,” Willocks says.

Willocks says while the unveiling of this H145 Westpac Rescue Helicopter is a new era for rescue services on the West Coast, the Trust’s commitment to the West Coast is far from finished.

Work is currently underway to expand IFR routes across the West Coast and to invest in weather stations across multiple West Coast sites – developments that will drastically improve the reliability of the rescue helicopter service.

“With our community’s support, we’ll keep working to support and futureproof the rescue helicopter service so it can protect those who live, work, and play on the West Coast for generations to come,” Willocks says.

Mission statistics
In 2025, the Canterbury West Coast Westpac Rescue Helicopter responded to 1081 missions – 691 in Canterbury and 390 in the West Coast. Of the West Coast missions 20% involved winch operations while 15% involved the use of specialist night vision goggles.

The West Coast mission types are: Accident/Trauma 26%; Medical Emergency 33%; Patient Transfer 22%; Search and Rescue 10%; definitive mission type not supplied 9%.

About the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust

The Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust has funded the life-saving Rescue Helicopters in Canterbury and the West Coast since 1989. Working alongside service provider GCH Aviation, the Trust is tasked with raising $6 million each year to support the operation of the service, which is not fully government funded. The Trust’s funding also supports the provision of life-saving equipment and additional crew training, all of which improves patient care and outcomes.

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