The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter responds to life and death situations with the speed and agility that can make all the difference, with patients able to receive urgent medical treatment whilst en route to a medical facility.
Providing a fully-fledged air emergency medical service with the employment of our own full-time experienced Critical Care Flight Paramedic (CCFP), Air Crew Officer and Pilots. Our crews offer a diverse range of attributes and experience to our operation. Each member of the team brings a specialist skillset, enhancing the safety and efficiency of rescue missions.
The team's expertise means your rescue helicopter can attend search and rescue missions, operations involving a winch, night operations, time-critical inter-hospital transfers, and provide assistance to NZ Fire, Land Search and Rescue and the Armed Offender Squad.
Central Air Ambulance Rescue Limited (CAARL) and Search and Rescue Services Ltd (SRSL) are registered charitable companies that operate 8 rescue helicopter bases covering the Central and Southern North Island, including the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter. To find out more, go to https://www.caarl.org.nz/
Team
Vanessa Richmond
General Manager
Leads Philips Search & Rescue Trust and oversees the Fundraising, Marketing, Administration & Finance teams
Sharni Weir
Head of Fundraising and Marketing
Leads all areas of Fundraising & Marketing. Oversees the delivery of fundraising, marketing & communication strategies
Angela Cranfield
Finance Manager
Oversees and supports all things related to finance
Renee Bosley
Fundraising & Marketing Executive
Supports the Fundraising & Marketing Manager, funding requirements, events and oversees fundraising campaigns
Jenny Barris
Finance Processor
Processes donations that are made across all bases
Ayshea Abela
Partnerships Coordinator
Supports our sponsors and corporate donor relationships
Kaia MacGregor
Donor Care Coordinator – Individual Giving
First point of contact for our generous donors, providing support with whatever they need
Laura Hamilton
Database Coordinator
Undertakes the day-to-day coordination of our database and provides support to our donors
Olivia Martinovich
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
Manages social media accounts, content creation and communicates with supporters via campaigns & media
Gillian Crompton
Marketing Executive
Looks after our community of patients and families, sharing stories with our family of supporters
Kelly Buchan
Community Fundraising Coordinator
Supports community fundraisers, provides fundraising support and looks after our legacy program.
Milla Ware
Fundraising & Marketing Assistant
Supports the everyday functions of the Fundraising and Marketing team
Millie Armory
Donor Care Coordinator – Regular Giving
Supports the everyday functions of the Fundraising and Marketing team
Helicopters
Specifications & Equipment
The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter is an Airbus H145. This twin-engine helicopter has advanced technology that significantly increase efficiency and performance, making it the best aircraft for all types of emergency situations.
Crew
Your Pilots
With proven experience in a diverse range of flying conditions, and logging thousands of flight hours, a rescue helicopter Pilot is trusted with the safety of all on board.
Sam - Pilot and Base manager
Andy - Pilot
Dan - Pilot
Frenchy - Pilot
Kane - Pilot
Your Air Crew Officer
As the extra eyes and ears for the Pilot and the Critical Care Flight Paramedic during a mission, safety on board and around the aircraft is their priority including winch operation, navigation, obstacle identification and safe landing during flights.
Jennifer - Air Crew Officer
Georgia - Air Crew Officer
David - Air Crew Officer
Mo - Air Crew Officer
Your Critical Care Flight Paramedic
A critical care flight paramedic is trained to perform advanced medical intervention and life-saving procedures within a rescue helicopter environment.
Diane - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Ray - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Rick - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Simon - Critical Care Flight Paramedic
Your Operations Team
Muir - Medical Director
Barry - Pilot Training Manager
Charlie - Chief Pilot
Chris - Chief Operating Officer
Graeme - Clinical Operations Manager
Hugo - Clinical Development Manager
History of the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter
The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was founded in 1987 and has undertaken over 17,000 missions since its inception. When incepted, the service was 2 pilots equipped with a single-engine squirrel helicopter, only capable of flying during daylight hours, and a tennis court substituting as a landing pad.
With more volunteers and local funding supporting the service, the Squirrel was replaced with a Bell 222 Helicopter in 1995. With IFR capability, the pilots were now able to navigate night missions and conditions with limited visibility.
A winch-capable, single-pilot IFR BK-117 was fitted out to be used as a new rescue helicopter and was in use by 2013. By 2019, a second BK-117 was fitted out with avionics and is now in use alongside the first to meet the growing demand for the service and ensure that rescues could be carried out right across the Waikato.
In 2023, the Airbus H145 Twin-engine helicopter was introduced as the new rescue helicopter for the Waikato base. The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter service has long been a two-rescue helicopter base and with this new H145 rescue helicopter, it will remain a two-rescue helicopter base.
Philips Search & Rescue Trust (PSRT) is the charity responsible for fundraising and promotion of the North Island’s largest pool of community rescue helicopters, including the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Encompassing a fleet of rescue helicopters, the service provides air health and rescue services free of charge to the public on a no-fault basis.
With more volunteers and local funding supporting the service, the Squirrel was replaced with a Bell 222 Helicopter in 1995. With IFR capability, the pilots were now able to navigate night missions and conditions with limited visibility.
A winch-capable, single-pilot IFR BK-117 was fitted out to be used as a new rescue helicopter and was in use by 2013. By 2019, a second BK-117 was fitted out with avionics and is now in use alongside the first to meet the growing demand for the service and ensure that rescues could be carried out right across the Waikato.
In 2023, the Airbus H145 Twin-engine helicopter was introduced as the new rescue helicopter for the Waikato base. The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter service has long been a two-rescue helicopter base and with this new H145 rescue helicopter, it will remain a two-rescue helicopter base.
Philips Search & Rescue Trust (PSRT) is the charity responsible for fundraising and promotion of the North Island’s largest pool of community rescue helicopters, including the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Encompassing a fleet of rescue helicopters, the service provides air health and rescue services free of charge to the public on a no-fault basis.
