On site at 73 Grays Rd, CHC Airport
Christine Prince
Chief Executive Officer
ABOUT THE AIR RESCUE TRUST
We are part of a charter called the Air Rescue Group (A.R.G.) which covers the whole of New Zealand which ensures a comprehensive life-saving service from Bluff to Cape Reinga. Together we work to embrace new technologies and advanced training methods as we strive to be one of the best Air Rescue Services in the world.
The Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust has been funding the life-saving Air Rescue and Air Ambulance Service in Canterbury and the West Coast since 1989. In this time the Service has successfully undertaken over 10,000 rescue missions. This has been achieved in partnership with Garden City Helicopters who are the contracted operator of the Service. We work with a lot of dedicated people from the Ministry of Health, the District Health Board, ACC, Police, Fire, St John, Search and Rescue, Mines Rescue, and many more services.
The Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust and New Zealand Flying Doctor's Trust needs to raise $7 million each year to provide this Service. We fundraise through a variety of channels including trusts and foundation grants, community fundraising, events, business sponsorship, direct marketing, digital marketing, bequests, and more. Approximately 50% of what’s necessary to keep our Air Rescue Service operational every year comes from ACC, Ministry of Health and DHB payments. The rest of this significant cost is met by the goodwill and generosity of our community.
The community are our main supporters. Individuals and businesses who support us are the ones who keep the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and New Zealand Flying Doctor's Service in the air. It is embedded as part of the Kiwi culture to help those in need and to support our local life-saving organisations.
Our generous supporters see the inherent value of contributing to saving lives and doing their part to help the community. Their generosity enables the Canterbury Westpac Rescue Helicopter, West Coast NZCC Rescue Helicopter and Flying Doctor's to be available to anyone in Canterbury or in the West Coast if they need specialist care.