Thanks for
helpING US in 2024
Thank you for joining us in supporting the lifesaving work of this vital community service that is always there for us - the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter.
Together, in 2024, we raised $141,086!
The need doesn’t stop here, you can still donate.
You can still show your support to the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter throughout the year.
Check out some of our #10for10 push up challenge participants from the 2024 appeal
For more videos, head to our social media pages
They
Saved Me
businesses that
SUPPORTed us in 2024
There are some great local businesses who showed their support this October. Thank you!
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Salvito's
Kindly donating $1 per Margherita pizza sold during the month of October.
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Two Thumb
Bingo Night on Tuesday 1 October.
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Nelson Kia
A portion of every October sale at Nelson Kia will be donated.
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Sublime Coffee
Head to any Sublime location, in October, and 'shout a brew' for the crew by making a donation.
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Alioke Eatery
$2 from every helicopter cookie sold donated.
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Nelson Skin Clinic
For every ZO Facial booked in October, they will donate $20.
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Nelson Marine Centre
For every life jacket sold during this October, the team will donate $10.
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Ezy Kitchens
Donating a portion of every kitchen purchased in October.
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Dancing Sands
$5 from every bottle sold donated.
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Trailfit
Dew Lakes charity run.
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MediaWork's
Media supporter
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Print Pockets Mapua
Supporting the Appeal through the sale of miniature lino prints available in a vending machine on Aranui Road.
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Mitre 10 Mega Marlborough
A generous donation from its Spring Fling.
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Penketh Property Law
A generous donation
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Iron Duke Sea Scouts
Fundraising effort from each group.
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Top South media
Media supporter
Your support means a lot, especially for those who have needed help the most.
Each year the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter responds to over 500 missions throughout the Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and Buller regions 24/7, 365 days of the year. Our rescue crews make a real difference in the lives of our communities. In a life or death situation, the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter may be a person’s only chance for survival.
Hear the stories below of survivors who have needed the help of the rescue crew.
Allan
“I needed emergency support. So for the helicopter to be available was miraculous. I heard the helicopter first, and it was incredible, a huge relief.”
Atlas
“Having the helicopter as a resource in our remote location is a lifesaver. We can't thank them enough for getting Atlas to hospital.”
James
“If you ever do anything in the outdoors or even live far away, my message would be to you to is to support the helicopters because when you need them, they're there.”
Russell
“The whole crew are just amazing people, and I just like to say thank you. Thank you very, very much for saving my life.”
“When I knew the helicopter was coming there was a sense of relief because we didn’t know what was happening to Brydie and we live rurally without any emergency services close by. We knew help wasn’t far away. That relief was amazing.”
Nelson ICU nurse Lesa Hall knew when her 5-year-old son Liam fell off his bike that he was in a lot of pain, and that she was a long way from specialist care. Read more.
When Laura’s quad bike crashed into a rock, she was launched over the handlebars. The driver jumped off in time – but Laura took the full impact. Read more.
Help us get our 2025 appeal off to a flying start by registering your school
Next October, the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter is inviting you and other schools around the region to participate in the NBS Rescue Helicopter Appeal Month – School’s Charity Day, to help raise much-needed funds for your local rescue helicopter.
Start planning how your school could get involved in 2025.
meet your
crew
Prue Young
Critical Care Paramedic
Prue loves the role of medic. She says that the team work as a close-knit unit, utilising their skills to maximise the patient’s outcomes.
Ever changing situations with patient treatment, weather, other environmental concerns and small confined areas, present unique challenges to overcome, but Prue says it is a special feeling to go home and know you have truly helped someone in their time of need.
Carl Babe
Crewperson
A successful and intense winch job that helps get someone the care they need, when they need it, is one of the most rewarding parts of Carl’s job.
He finds it incredibly reassuring knowing that help is there if he needs it while he is out doing what he loves whether it be sailing our coastline, tramping or skiing in our mountains or on the mountain bike trails.
Dion Edgar
Pilot
Dion Edgar moved from the commercial sector to rescue services in mid 2022. Dion has a large amount of flying hours behind him and extensive experience flying in varied conditions. He’s worked in the past as a pilot within the forestry and mining industry, as well as flying to fishing vessels out at sea.
Originally from the deep south, he began his career as a shepherd and saved as much as he could from shearing to become a helicopter pilot. Dion may call Nelson home now but he still rolls his R’s and wears his gumboots around the hangar.
Kerryn Wratt
Critical Care Paramedic
Originally from Motueka, Kerryn has spent the last 20 years sharpening his Paramedic skills in Australia and has now returned home to serve his community. “Working on the rescue helicopter is a unique opportunity to work as part of a small team providing excellent medical care in remote and challenging places”, something Kerryn is passionate about. This role includes lots of challenges, but the rewards are significant.
Jeff Hughes
Critical Care Paramedic / Crewperson
From a role as a military contract Helicopter MEDEVAC and rescue, through to protective details for former President Obama, Jeff is now settled in his dream role, helping his community the best way he knows how.
Jeff has been operating as an Advanced Life Support or Intensive Care Paramedic for over 15 years, and is a safe pair of hands, there for you when you need him.
Brendan Hiatt
Pilot
The satisfaction of reeling in a “big one” on his boat is nothing compared to the feeling of satisfaction Brendan gets after completing an intense and successful mission.
Knowing that what he does as part of the team, to help people in our community get to the care they need faster is incredibly satisfying.
Colby Tyrrell
Pilot
The shift from touring commercial pilot to emergency service work Colby has relished. The reactive nature of the work with the Rescue Service responding 24 hours a day in sometimes less than favourable conditions keeps things fresh.
Kodee Pori-Makea-Simpson
Paramedic and Crewperson
After a Paramedic career in Australia, Kodee has returned home to Aotearoa to serve the community across Te Tau Ihu in her dream job. The unpredictable nature and need to wear many different ‘hats’ in her role, is what she loves most about her job. She credits the close-knit team environment for being able to provide help to those in need, whenever they need it.
Matt Wilkinson
Critical Care Paramedic
Like many of his colleagues, Matt has lost count of the lifesaving missions he has completed.
Aside from the view on the job, Matt loves the closeness of his team and credits this for the incredible care and effectiveness of the team when undertaking life saving missions.
