A night out could keep a lifeline in the air. That’s the pitch behind a fundraiser for the Taranaki Air Ambulance, which clocks an average of 14 flights a week to ferry patients to specialist care that isn’t available in the region.
In the past year the service carried about 668 people to life‑saving treatment , all thanks to a small trust that relies on community support to keep its aircraft and crew ready .
The Taranaki Air Ambulance Trust’s model is lean by design. Volunteers oversee the operation, supported by a tiny administration team. They contract Skyline Aviation to run flights while raising funds for specialist equipment and well‑trained flight nurses to ensure patients are comfortable and safe.
Mike Morresey’s Hope Walk NP is lending a hand this weekend with an evening at the New Plymouth Club. The event, scheduled for Saturday, 13 September at 6:30 pm, promises live music, a guest speaker and an auction featuring a signed All Blacks jersey and even a helicopter ride.
Tickets are $50 per person or $500 for a table of 10, with proceeds going straight to the trust to help fund facilities, equipment and training for flight nurses.
If you can’t make the auction, the trust encourages people to consider donating or volunteering. Every dollar helps maintain the aircraft, train flight nurses and ensure patients get to specialist hospitals when time matters most.
