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Operating region

Missions

Each year the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter responds to over 500 missions throughout the Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and Buller regions. With our base in Nelson being surrounded by three National Parks, alpine peaks, numerous world class mountain bike tracks, a ski field within driving distance and the beautiful coastal waters which surround us, the rescue helicopter proves to be a vital service within the community.

The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter service are on standby 24/7, 365 days of the year.

The rescue helicopter service provides a lifesaving, critical lifeline to these communities and watches over the lives of more than 200,000 residents and visitors to the region.  The rugged coastlines and vast rural expanses means when things go wrong, these regions are vulnerable and isolated.  The speed and manoeuvrability characteristics of a rescue helicopter offer unique advantages over conventional land ambulances and in a life and death situation, the rescue helicopter service may be a patient’s only chance for survival.

Our rescue crews make a real different in the lives of our communities.  They can provide advanced care to patients much faster.  In remote and hard to reach areas, the rescue helicopter can mean the difference between life and death.

Missions flown by our rescue helicopter service can be categorised into the following general groups:

Police SAR 2%
Beacon 7%
Medical Emergencies 44%
Occupational 1%
Outdoor Accidents 33%
Motor Vehicle Accidents 12%
Hospital Transfers 1%

36 Missions Flown in April

April was a busy month for the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter with 36 missions flown across Te Tauihi - 5 winch missions and 12 using night vision technology.
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Live Tracking

Follow the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter in real time.

LATEST NEWS

‘My first set of angels’: Behind the scenes of a rescue helicopter’s life-saving missions

Samantha Gee05:00, May 22 2021 - Stuff Read More The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter service is 30 this year. Samantha…

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PATIENT STORIES

Crew Transports Neve from Mt Robert Ridge Track 

Neve was enjoying the school holidays in the Nelson Lakes National Park before she came into trouble.
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