News

SG Fleet New Zealand is a proud sponsor of Northland Rescue Helicopter

25 Mar 2022

SG Fleet is the ongoing vehicle sponsor for Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST), supplying a Ford Ranger and Ford Puma for the Northland Rescue Helicopter team to assist them with this vital work. 

The Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) is a charitable trust established to provide a dedicated emergency rescue helicopter service for the people of Northland.

Geoff Tipene, Managing Director of SG Fleet, New Zealand, said: "It's a privilege to help support the continued work of NEST, which is so crucial to providing an essential emergency service, and particularly to those living in remote areas of Northland." On-duty pilots and engineers will use these new vehicles. The addition of these new vehicles enables the Northland Emergency Services Trust staff to continue the lifesaving work they do in the Northland region.

Trust Chair of NEST, Paul Ahlers said, "It is valuable sponsorship of this type that enables the rescue chopper service to continue the lifesaving work it does in the Northland region."

"This support will help us continue to provide a valuable service to the people of Northland, and with over 3,200kms of coastline and many remote rural communities, we are one of the busiest operators in the country. We responded to 1,115 call-outs last year, so quick and reliable transport is often key to delivering positive patient outcomes."

Since 1988, NEST has carried over 21,000 people to safety. Whether they've been locals, other Kiwis holidaying in the area or overseas visitors to Northland's beautiful region – they answer the call for help when they're needed.

Northland has many unsealed roads, with changeable weather and people live over a wide-spread area that's often difficult to access quickly by road. With an increased risk of death and serious injury caused when medical treatment is delayed – all of these factors make Northland's Rescue Helicopter service so essential.

On average, they fly three missions in a 24 hour period, and approximately one-third of the flights are during the night. They will fly casualties to Whangarei Hospital and Auckland Hospital if more specialist treatment is required.

NEST has three Sikorsky S-76 emergency rescue helicopters. They are the only service in New Zealand using this model of emergency helicopters providing world-class capabilities with world-class pilots to fly them. The choppers' crews are qualified St John paramedics who are experienced pre-hospital emergency clinicians and provide medical care and treatment. They also serve as the winch operators on search and rescue operations.

In the hangar based in Whangarei City, the team runs operations behind the scenes. That includes everyone from accounts to the experts busy fixing their fleet and the engineers who ensure that the helicopters are safe and in good condition.

SG Fleet is proud to provide support vehicles for this essential emergency rescue work.

 

NZ Northland Rescue