>>> THE TRUSTPOWER TECT RESCUE HELICOPTER

The Philips Search and Rescue Trust has operated the rescue helicopter in Tauranga since June 2000. The current principal sponsors are TrustPower and Tauranga Energy Consumer Trust, hence the name TrustPower TECT Rescue Helicopter.

The base averages about three jobs a week, but this is predicted to increase with the fast growth of the area and the expansion of Tauranga Hospital. Hospital utilisation of the helicopter is steadily increasing due to transfers to both Waikato Hospital and Auckland Hospital and retrievals from smaller hospitals back to Tauranga Hospital.

The majority of calls to the Tauranga base are for accidents involving motor vehicles, as well as incidents on farms and those related to recreational pursuits. The service also works with the Police on armed defender callouts and responds to both marine and land, air and search rescue. In the past the rescue helicopter has also been called in to help fight bush fires around the region.

Hangar

Currently we have a temporary hangar on Tauranga Hospital grounds. Work is due to start on a $110 million hospital campus redevelopment which includes a new helipad and hangar site. Once this is complete a permanent facility to house the rescue helicopter will be built.

Region

The Tauranga based TrustPower TECT Rescue Helicopter covers an area from Waihi to Te Kaha and inland to Matamata. Being situated on the coast enables the service to operate over most of its coverage area in most weather conditions.