Northland Rescue Helicopter

Northland Rescue Helicopter A charitable trust established to provide a dedicated emergency rescue and air ambulance helicopter service for the people of Northland.
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We provide the people of Northland with an excellent, safe, effective and efficient service, and will do so by maintaining its present course – one of providing first class flight crews aboard top class aircraft. We know about Northland’s unsealed roads, our changeable weather and the fact that our people live over a wide-spread area that’s often difficult to access quickly by road. We’re also awa

re of the increased risk of death and serious injury caused when medical treatment is delayed – all of which makes Northland’s Electricity Rescue Helicopter service so essential. We not only provide rescue services at accident scenes, but we also do a lot of inter-hospital patient transfers. We specialise in transporting NICU and PIQU babies and code stemi patients too. The emergency rescue helicopters are crewed on every mission by either one or two members of a full-time team of St John Flight Intensive Care Paramedics (ICPs) who play an integral role in providing the medical care and treatment to all sick and injured patients transported. The Trust is supported by the generous contributions made by local sponsors, individuals, families, businesses and organisations. A Board of Trustees, all of which are Northlanders, governs NEST and oversees its strategic direction and management. We have transported nearly 17,000 people over the past 26 years. Over the last 12 months we have flown 735 missions and transported 800 people to hospitals or medical facilities around the north. On average, our helicopters are in the air twice a day, saving or making a huge difference to the lives of everyone we carry. Most people in Northland have a loved one or someone they care about, that have been flown by NEST.

19/05/2026

Rescue with a canine difference 🐾

We recently undertook a winch rescue off the Hen and Chicken Islands.

DOC worker Miriam Ritchie broke five ribs after falling in steep terrain.

After our crew located Miriam, critical care paramedic Dan Short was winched on to the Island and first attended to Miriam’s rodent detection dog ‘Ahu’.

The little dog was secured in a winch retrieval device called a child/animal rescue bag (CARB), especially designed for children and animals. It quite possibly is Northern Rescue’s first dog retrieval ever!

Miriam says the crew was awesome.

“We’re very lucky to have such an amazing service with such highly skilled people, available to us.”

Thanks to our team, which also comprised of Johs Van Pierce (captain), Marinus Coetzee (co-pilot) and Richard Sharp (hoist operator and critical care paramedic).

Mitre 10 MEGA Whangārei Mission at the Marina – a roaring success! Another shout out to all our amazing sponsors We are ...
06/05/2026

Mitre 10 MEGA Whangārei Mission at the Marina – a roaring success!

Another shout out to all our amazing sponsors

We are stoked to announce that over $67k was raised at our inaugural Mitre 10 MEGA Whangārei Mission at the Marina – our major fundraising event for the year held at Tutukaka over the weekend.

The success of the event was thanks to the generosity of our dozens of fiercely loyal sponsors, supporters and locals who dug deep for the auction items.

It was an amazing afternoon thanks to superb food, a great vibe and an incredibly important community cause.
Watch this space for May 2027!

🚁 ON THE GROUND IN TUTUKAKA 🚁The Northern Rescue Helicopter will be on the Village Green from 4:15pm today.If you’ve eve...
01/05/2026

🚁 ON THE GROUND IN TUTUKAKA 🚁

The Northern Rescue Helicopter will be on the Village Green from 4:15pm today.
If you’ve ever seen it overhead, this is your chance to come and see it up close, meet the crew, and get a real sense of the life-saving work it does across Northland.

Bring the kids, bring your questions, and come down for a look.

🚨 LAST CHANCE TO BID 🔨Not long left to get your bids in for the Mitre 10 MEGA Whangārei Mission at the Marina silent auc...
01/05/2026

🚨 LAST CHANCE TO BID 🔨
Not long left to get your bids in for the Mitre 10 MEGA Whangārei Mission at the Marina silent auction.

There are more than 20 incredible items and experiences up for grabs, and every dollar raised helps keep the Northern Rescue Helicopters flying and saving lives across Northland, 24/7.

Big thanks to our generous sponsors. Now it’s over to you.

https://app.galabid.com/mission/items?item_type=bidding

24/04/2026

🚨 SILENT AUCTION – NOW LIVE 🔨

It’s time to get bidding! 💸

Our silent auction for the Mitre 10 MEGA Whangarei Mission at the Marina is officially live. Don’t miss your chance to snap up some incredible items and experiences (over 20 to choose from!).

Every dollar raised helps keep the Northern Rescue Helicopters flying and saving lives across Northland, 24/7.

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors — now it’s your turn to treat yourself while supporting a life-saving cause. ❤️

👉 http://bit.ly/4u4ftjQ

🎟️ Group Tickets Now Live!Don’t miss your chance to be part of something special ✨Join us for the Mitre 10 MEGA Whangāre...
13/04/2026

🎟️ Group Tickets Now Live!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of something special ✨

Join us for the Mitre 10 MEGA Whangārei Mission at the Marina on May 2nd – an unforgettable night, all while raising funds for our Northern Rescue Helicopters.

Grab your friends, colleagues, or clients and secure a table of 6 to receive a special discount.*

Be quick – this is set to be a spectacular night you won’t want to miss!

https://app.galabid.com/mission/event-tickets/398b60e1-8cd5-4c4f-827b-dcd747413a86

*Discount available for groups of more than 6 - see details on the ticket website

Dirk Annemans is an absolute champion of our Northern Rescue helicopters.That’s because he has benefited from two life-s...
07/04/2026

Dirk Annemans is an absolute champion of our Northern Rescue helicopters.

That’s because he has benefited from two life-saving flights following cardiac episodes – the first time in November 2012 and again on May 26, 2023.

Ironically, before that first flight, Dirk used to wave at the Northern Rescue choppers as they flew on by. He still does but with a prayer for those on board having been that guy twice.

Read Dirk's story here: https://www.nest.org.nz/dirk-annemans/

Address

88 Robert Street
Whangarei
0110

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