Te Anau on outer as North Island towns get chopper lifeline
Te Anau remains excluded from the proposed nationally integrated air ambulance service, despite pressure from North Island communities putting Taupo¯ and Rotorua-based rescue helicopter services back in the mix.
The National Ambulance Sector Office’s recently proposed that rescue helicopters should be based out of eight coastal cities – but not in Te Anau, Taupo¯ or Rotorua.
At a meeting yesterday between Health Minister David Clark and Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick, Taupo mayor David Trewavas and Ruapehu mayor Don Cameron, the northern mayors won back the right for the North Island locations to tender to be part of the future nationally integrated service.
Te Anau however remains on the outer, with the office’s proposal proposing to see Fiordland covered by Queenstown, which would add 20 to 25 minutes of flight time.
Simon O’Neill, who created a change.org petition to save the threatened services, said while it was a great result for Taupo and Rotorua, Te Anau remains a big concern.
‘‘Te Anau is an outpost into Fiordland were we still expect close to 1,000,000 visitors in the next year.
‘‘One wonders if they featured in the NASO calculations or if it only considered the relatively small number of permanent residents.’’
Earlier yesterday, talk of a Te Anau protest march was scotched, with work going on behind the scenes to save the service.
The sector office is seeking larger area-based contracts, including one for all of the South Island, because the demand for air ambulance services has been rising.
Southland district councillor Ebel Kremer said helicopter industry professionals were working behind the scenes to save the service.
‘‘We’re working with the professionals and the people who know the industry to get an outcome that will benefit all of the Southland district communities who use this service.
‘‘We have to give them the opportunity to work together and we don’t wish to upset those negotiations. The powers that be are well aware of the opinions of the people of the community who don’t support the proposal.’’
Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker said at this stage the Te Anau helicopter was ‘‘gone as far as I’m concerned’’.
Alongside some fellow National MPs from affected regions, he said he had been declined a meeting with the ACC minister to discuss their communities’ concerns.
Ministry of Health community and ambulance manager Andrew Inder said in a statement on April 9, that no decision has been made yet on where the air ambulance helicopter services will be based but coverage around the country, including the North Island’s central plateau, Coromandel and Te Anau will continue.
‘‘The locations will be determined through the current request for proposal process but it is important to note there will be an improved nationwide helicopter service that can provide better clinical support for patients.
‘‘No community will be without an air ambulance helicopter service. The new service will deliver a guaranteed standard without the current variation in response times.’’
About 500 people attended a protest rally about the fate of the Bay Trust Rescue Helicopter in Rotorua on Saturday.
An online petition to save the services had attracted more than 24,000 signatures by Monday.
Submissions on the proposal close on May 7, with the proposed changes to take effect from November.
Rescue helicopter services are generally funded 50 per cent by government and 50 per cent by the community through sponsorship and donations.