Northland Electricity Rescue Helicopters Annual Appeal 2015

Annually the operation transports over 800 patients and clocks up well over 1000 hours in the air as it covers the longest length of coastline of any rescue helicopter service in New Zealand.

Since its first flight in 1988, the service has flown more than 17,000 missions and as demand continues to grow, so does the need for more funding.

We are so thankful for the generosity our community shows and the time our various ambassadors commit to spreading the word. We need that because every dollar counts. We are aiming to raise well over $200,000 in public donations during the 2015 fundraising appeal, so we need people you dig deep now.

Your generosity helps to cover the following costs:

Cape Reinga to Whangarei Hospital $8,000

Kaitaia to Whangarei Hospital $6,000

Kaeo to Whangarei Hospital $4,800

Rawene to Whangarei Hospital $4,000

Kawakawa or Dargaville to Whangarei Hospital $3,000

Whangarei Hospital to Auckland $6,000

The NEST helicopters fly at around 300 km per hour.

In one year they cover around 300,000 km, this is 7 timesaround the world!

In one year about 420,000 litres of fuel is used (10 of thebig tankers worth)

The blades go around about 20 million times in a year (they should last about 25 years and a full set is worth just on $1 million).

Cost just over $550,000 on fuel in 2014

Maintenance costs $1.4 million annually

To buy a new helicopter – approx. $15 million NZ

Current helicopters worth approx. $2.6 million each