New Zealand

The Philips Search & Rescue Trust was founded in 1985 to operate rescue helicopters. In 1987 a supplementary fixed-wing air ambulance service was established. The Palmerston North service was a one time known as the Square Trust Rescue Helicopter.

Key Dates

The Philips Search & Rescue Trust currently operates six rescue helicopters and two fixed-wing air ambulance aircraft.

No plans known.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter operates in the standard Westpac Rescue red and yellow colour scheme. The other helicopters operate in a various colour schemes based on their main sponsor colours. Westpac air ambulances: The Piper PA-31 operates in a plain white colour scheme, while the MU-2 is in white and grey with a red ‘heartbeat’ cheatline, with WESTPAC AIR AMBULANCE titles.

Aircraft Serial Numbers

The helicopters and aircraft carry New Zealand civil aircraft registrations.

Coding system not used.

None – Manufacturers designations used

All-Time Aircraft Used List

Aircraft NOT Used

No false reports known.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

None known.



Philips Search & Rescue Trust, PO Box 9308, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240.
Westpac Air Ambulance, Ingram Road, Hamilton Airport, Hamilton.

The Philips Search and Rescue Trust operates six helicopters from five different locations:
– Palmerston North: Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter, based at Palmerston North Hospital, Manawatu
– Hamilton: Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter, based at Waikato Hospital, Hamilton
– Rotorua: Baytrust Rescue Helicopter, based at Rotorua Hospital, Rotorua
– Taupo: Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, based at Anzac Memorial Drive, Taupo
– Bay of Plenty: Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter, based at Tauranga Hospital, Tauranga

See above.

See above.

See above.



See organisational structure above.

As above.

None known.

Magazines

To be added

Unlike the other rescue helicopters in New Zealand, the service for the Te Anau and Queenstown area is not provided by a charitable trust but by a commercial operator – Southern Lakes Helicopters. These helicopters are dual-role commercial charter and rescue and so do not have a full medical cabin.

Southern Lakes Helicopters provide medical evacuation services throughout the Fiordland, Southland and Stewart Island regions. They are also well equipped for medivacs and rescues from the Southern Ocean. They are a certified Air Rescue and Air Ambulance operator and are on call 24/7. Given the remoteness of parts of these regions and the distance from emergency medical services, the service they provide is often critical. Being equipped and acredited to carry out missions using night vision goggles means they are able to respond to emergency situations both day and night.

Key Dates

Southern Lakes Helicopters is fully operational.

No plans known.

Southern Lakes helicopters operate in an overall white colour scheme with a grey-red-grey fuselage cheatline.

Aircraft Serial Numbers

The helicopters carry New Zealand civil aircraft registrations.

Coding system not used.

None – Manufacturers designations used

All-Time Aircraft Used List

Aircraft NOT Used

No false reports known.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

None known.



Southern Lakes Helicopters, Lakefront Drive, PO Box 156, Te Anau 9640, New Zealand.

No subordinate units.

No subordinate units.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.



The helicopters are based at Te Anau Airport.

As above.

None known.

Magazines

To be added

In 1984, the Hawke’s Bay Helicopter Rescue Trust was first established. The service was initially focussed on water rescues but in 1989 expanded to involve patient transfers, police searches, accident recovery etc. In 1991 the service became a full-time dedicated rescue service. Principal sponsorship support came from Lowe Walker NZ Ltd. In 1997, Lowe Walker changed their company name to Lowe Corporation. The service has since been known as the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Service.

Key Dates

The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter is fully operational.

No plans known.

The helicopter operates in an overall black colour scheme with LOWE CORPORATION RESCUE fuselage titles.

Aircraft Serial Numbers

The helicopter carries New Zealand civil aircraft registration.

Coding system not used.

None – Manufacturers designations used

All-Time Aircraft Used List

Aircraft NOT Used

No false reports known.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

None known.



Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust, PO Box 402, Hastings, 4120.

No subordinate units.

No subordinate units.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.



The helicopter is based at Orchard Road, Hastings.

As above.

None known.

Magazines

To be added

Founded in 1992, the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust was established to provide a rapid response rescue helicopter service for the province. Initially the Trust utilised a helicopter that was only available on a semi-dedicated basis. In 1999, the decision was made to invest in a 100% dedicated air ambulance, search and rescue helicopter. Coming onboard as a major sponsor, Taranaki Electricity Trust made this upgrade possible. A hangar was constructed at Taranaki Base Hospital.

Key Dates

The Trust helicopter is fully operational.

No plans known.

The TRHT helicopter operates in yellow and black colour scheme with RESCUE – TARANAKI COMMUNITY HELICOPTER fuselage titles.

Aircraft Serial Numbers

The helicopter carries New Zealand civil aircraft registration.

Coding system not used.

None – Manufacturers designations used

All-Time Aircraft Used List

Aircraft NOT Used

No false reports known.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

None known.



Taranaki Rescue Helicopter, PO Box 5155, Westown, New Plymouth 4343.

No subordinate units.

No subordinate units.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.



The helicopter is based at the Hangar Complex, Taranaki Base Hospital, David Street, New Plymouth.

As above.

None known.

Magazines

To be added

The Northland Emergency Services Trust was founded in 1988. The helicopter began operations later the same year.

Key Dates

The helicopters of NEST are fully operational.

No plans known.

The NEST helicopters operate in three different colour schemes, but all carry ELECTRICITY RESCUE titles on the rear fuselage.

Aircraft Serial Numbers

The helicopter carries New Zealand civil aircraft registration.

Coding system not used.

None – Manufacturers designations used

All-Time Aircraft Used List

Aircraft NOT Used

No false reports known.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

None known.



Northland Emergency Services Trust, 43 Western Hills Drive, Whangarei, New Zealand.

No subordinate units.

No subordinate units.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.



The helicopters are based at Whangarei Airport.

As above.

None known.

Magazines

To be added

The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust is a registered Charitable Trust operating since 1991 to provide a dedicated rescue helicopter service throughout the Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough & Buller regions.

For many years the service operated with a single AS350 helicopter, but in late 2011 this was supplemented by a much larger BK117.

Key Dates

The helicopters of the NMRHT are fully operational.

No plans known.

The AS350 operates in an overall white colour scheme with a red/blue cheatline. The BK117 operates in a red/yellow colour scheme, with the rear half of the helicopter red and the front half yellow.

Aircraft Serial Numbers

The helicopter carries New Zealand civil aircraft registration.

Coding system not used.

None – Manufacturers designations used

All-Time Aircraft Used List

Aircraft NOT Used

No false reports known.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

None known.



Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust, 5 McLaren Drive, Nelson, 7011, New Zealand.

No subordinate units.

No subordinate units.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.



The helicopters are based at Nelson Airport.

As above.

None known.

Magazines

To be added

New Zealand Air Ambulance Service (NZAAS) provides private and government contracted patient transfers throughout the South Pacific. It was founded in 1982, as a subsidiary of Skyline Aviation Ltd.

Key Dates

NZAAS is fully operational.

No plans known.

NZAAS aircraft operate in a basically white colour scheme with a red cheatline, red cross insignia on the fin and NEW ZEALAND AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE titles under the cockpit.

Aircraft Serial Numbers

The aircraft carry New Zealand civil aircraft registrations.

Coding system not used.

None – Manufacturers designations used

All-Time Aircraft Used List

* Only aircraft operated in NZAAS markings are listed.

Aircraft NOT Used

No false reports known.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

None known.



New Zealand Air Ambulance Service, 111 Main North Road, PO BOX 3303, Napier 4142,New Zealand.

No subordinate units.

No subordinate units.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.



The aircraft are based at Auckland Airport.

As above.

None known.

Magazines

To be added

Lakes District Air Rescue Trust operates emergency rescue helicopters from bases in Queenstown and Te Anau. It was first established in 1992. Helicopter operations started soon after.

Key Dates

All LDART helicopters are fully operational.

No plans known.

The LDART helicopters operates in a basically white colour scheme with operator specific markings.

Aircraft Serial Numbers

The helicopter carries New Zealand civil aircraft registration.

Coding system not used.

None – Manufacturers designations used

All-Time Aircraft Used List

Aircraft NOT Used

No false reports known.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

None known.



Lakes District Air Rescue Trust, PO Box 721, Queenstown 9348, New Zealand.

No subordinate units.

No subordinate units.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.



The helicopters are based at Queenstown Airport and Te Anau Airport, Manapouri.

As above.

None known.

Magazines

To be added

The Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust (EHRT) was first established in 1988. Helicopter operations started soon after, with the helicopter known as the Eastland Community Trust (ECT) Rescue Helicopter, after its main sponsor. With various upgrades, the EHRT appears to have been operating the same helicopter for more than 27 years.

Key Dates

The ERHT helicopter is fully operational.

No plans known.

The EHRT helicopter operates in basically white colour scheme with ECT RESCUE fuselage titles.

Aircraft Serial Numbers

The helicopter carries New Zealand civil aircraft registration.

Coding system not used.

None – Manufacturers designations used

All-Time Aircraft Used List

Aircraft NOT Used

No false reports known.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

None known.



Eastland Rescue Helicopter Trust, PO Box 295, Gisborne 4040.

No subordinate units.

No subordinate units.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.



The helicopter is based at Gisborne Airport.

As above.

None known.

Magazines

To be added

The Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust was established to develop and support the permanent helicopter base and crew for the Whitianga Rescue Helicopter. The second Auckland “Westpac Rescue” Helicopter and crew is deployed to Whitianga over the summer period and holiday weekends to service the whole of the Coromandel region.

The Trust’s objective is to have a Rescue Helicopter based permanently in Whitianga within the next five years. To date the Coromandel Helicopter Trust has been successful in securing significant funding to establish the hangar and crew base next to the Mercury Bay Aero Club airfield. When deployed, the Rescue helicopter responds to over 200 rescue missions per year.

Key Dates

A permanent helicopter base has been established, with hangar and crew rest area.

Fund-raising for a dedicated helicopter.

The ARHT helicopter operates in the standard Westpac Rescue Helicopter red and yellow colour scheme.

Aircraft Serial Numbers

The helicopter carries New Zealand civil aircraft registration.

Coding system not used.

None – Manufacturers designations used

The trust has no helicopter of its own at the moment.

All-Time Aircraft Used List

The trust has no helicopter of its own at the moment.

Aircraft NOT Used

No false reports known.

Aircraft Losses and Incidents

None known.



CRHT Hangar, Abrahamson Drive, Whitianga.

No subordinate units.

No subordinate units.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.



The helicopter is based at Whitingia Airport.

As above.

None known.

Magazines

To be added