Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Service

04/06/2026

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Event organiser Claire Wilson says the event shows how one little idea can have an impact.

03/06/2026

THAT'S A WRAP ON CHOPPER APPEAL MONTH! 🚁

The month of May represents national Chopper Appeal Month and we celebrate by recapping with a few snapshots of activity over the month in Hawke's Bay.

Including a record breaking Westpac Chopper Appeal Quiz night, attended by 150 quizzers and raising almost $12,000 for our Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter Service!

Workplace auctions and fundraising also featured and of course, our annual Chopper Street Appeal.

With operational costs rising and last year 9,330 lifesaving missions flown by the national network of rescue helicopters – including 352 in the Hawkes Bay region – there's no denying the need for fundraising support is more essential now than ever before.

We'd like to thank Westpac NZ and all our amazing volunteers and team for getting behind this incredibly worthy appeal. 🚁🙏

28/05/2026

RECENT MISSIONS 🚁

🚁 Pilot Bill, Paramedic Jack and ACO Julian were called to help a male patient suffering a cardiac event on the Mahia Peninsula. When our crew arrived St. John ambulance staff were on scene and had started treatment, the patient needed airlifting to hospital and en route his condition improved.

🚁 Tuesday night two people were transported to hospital (one by rescue helicopter), suffering serious to moderate head injuries after a car crashed on Blackburn Rd in Onga Onga into a tree and fence. St. John ambulance and four fire crews were also in attendance.

We wish all our patients the best with their recoveries.

26/05/2026

Horsepower, community and a stable of large and loyal supporters has got the Winter Olympics 🦄 over the line in their quest to purchase a new Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) for the rescue helicopter! The grassroots equestrian event has raised an impressive $68,000 for our lifesaving service and a mammoth $102,000 in total for local community groups. 👏🏻 👏🏻

24/05/2026

Snapshot of a couple of the crew's recent missions 🚁:

19/5 Due to Eastland Rescue Helicopter being tasked to another mission, our Hawke's Bay crew battled some challenging weather conditions to reach a patient who had suffered a spinal injury in remote Ruatoria. After stabilising the patient, Pilot Matt, CCFP Heath and ACO Michaela transported them straight to Gisborne Hospital.

22/5 This time, heavy fog and poor visibility made flying too precarious prompting our crew to respond to a critically unwell paediatric patient in our upgraded community sponsored response vehicle (RRV). Ensuring that emergency response crews can respond safely during very difficult and challenging conditions. St John Ambulance and FENZ also in attendance.

And check out these action shots captured by John Roberts of our crew picking up an injured hiker off the Tongariro Crossing on May 2nd. 🚁

19/05/2026

RESCUE HELICOPTER WELCOMES FORMER MAYOR ONBOARD 🚁

Central Hawke’s Bay’s former Mayor Alex Walker has wasted no time pivoting her skills and attention to support the region’s rescue helicopter service into its next chapter – joining the Board of Trustees.

Previously sitting on Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust’s Trustee Appointments Committee, Ms Walker has also played an integral role in the region’s Cyclone Gabrielle recovery coordination.

“Through our Cyclone Gabrielle experiences, I know the reassurance that comes from having our own helicopter, our own equipment and our own people, right here in our community, ready to respond when we need them most. The governance skills that underpin strong local government — council, community and iwi partnerships, economic, health and social connections, emergency management, asset planning, risk and audit — are exactly what a Rescue Helicopter Service needs to thrive. That alignment made saying yes feel very natural.

“Hawke's Bay's Rescue Helicopter Service is one of the region's most trusted and loved institutions. It delivers what truly matters, in a highly professional way, with the full support of the community behind it. I feel honoured and extremely proud to be a part of it.”

Welcome aboard Alex! 🚁

17/05/2026

Pilot Nat, ACO Wayne and CCFP Jack were tasked on Thursday to a patient who suffered an accident on a remote farm in Whanganui.

St John Ambulance crews were in attendance and started treatment before we arrived, once our crew took a handover the woman was safely transported to hospital for further assessment.

On Friday we airlifted a male suffering a cardiac related event from Hastings hangar to Wellington hospital.

We wish both patients all the best with their recoveries.🚁

Footage credits: CCFP Jack and ACO Georgia 📸

12/05/2026

Our crew was tasked to a recent medical event involving a patient in central Napier.

After receiving immediate treatment from St John Ambulance staff on scene, our crew airlifted the patient straight to Wellington Hospital. We're pleased to say that en route the patient's condition was stablised and resolved and they should make a full recovery. 🚁

05/05/2026

This month is Westpac Chopper Appeal Month and our amazing local Westpac team is out and about raising funds to help keep us in the air.

Please support if you can. The team are outside supermarkets across Hawke’s Bay today, including HB Rescue Helicopter Air Crew Officer Georgia and her trusty lab Rhum at Havelock North New World.

If you don’t see our buckets today you can always donate directly at our website. Every little bit helps. https://www.hbhrt.org.nz/donations