There isnt any national funding for New Zealand rescue helicopters; it is mostly provided by local communities and friendly corporate sponsors. Most regions have an organisation to task and maintain one or more helicopters, usually established as a charitable trust with a board to provide oversight and governance. It is convenient for helis_com to group them together, here.
News about New Zealand Rescue Helicopters |

Two AW169 Helicopter Simulators for NZ Northern Rescue
05-Mar-26 - Northern Rescue Helicopter acquires two Entrol AW169 simulators with advanced enwall LED visual system, enhancing mission-critical search and rescue training in New Zealand. #NewZealand
Former REGA H145 Air Ambulances Arrive in New Zealand
06-Jan-26 - B&H Worldwide has completed the air transport delivery of the last two former Swiss REGA H145 air ambulance helicopters to New Zealand, where they will be operated by GCH Aviation on behalf of the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust. #NewZealand
New Entrol H145 Simulator for New Zealand Air Ambulances
21-Apr-25 - New Zealand air ambulance operator Search and Rescue Services Limited (SRSL) acquired an Entrol H145 FNPT II MCC simulator for its new H145D3 fleet #simulator
Four Airbus H145 Helicopters for New Zealand Rescue Service
25-Mar-25 - New Zealand’s Search and Rescue Services (SRSL) ordered 4 Airbus H145 air ambulance helicopters #Avalon2025
Another AW169 for New Zealand Northern Rescue Helicopter
06-Nov-24 - Rotortrade announced the sale of a pre-owned Leonardo AW169 helicopter to Northern Rescue Helicopter for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) operations in New Zealand, as part of its plan to operate a fleet of five aircraft by 2025 #EuropeanRotors
Two Leased AW169s for New Zealand Northern Rescue
13-May-24 - Milestone to lease two Leonardo AW169 helicopters to New Zealand air ambulance operator Northern Rescue Helicopters Limited, a joint venture between AHRT and NEST to provide medical services in the northern region #NewZealand
NEST S-76 Juliet Retires to MOTAT
24-Jul-23 - New Zealand air ambulance operator Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) retired its first S-76A helicopter, Juliet, which entered service with the charity in 1997, to the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT)
NZ Taranaki Rescue to Replace Helicopter
13-Sep-21 - New Zealand Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust will replace its AW109E Power in service since 2011 with a leased Bk117 #Taranaki
New Medical H145 for New Zealand
13-Aug-19 - Airbus Australia delivered two EC145T2/H145 Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) to New Zealand’ Garden City Helicopters, known as GCH Aviation, to be based in Christchurch and Dunedin to serve the South Island #NewZealandAuckland Rescue Helicopter Trust Orders Two AW169s
18-Oct-11 - New Zealand Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust ordered two AW169 helicopters. Scheduled to be delivered in 2015
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