A local family have pledged to match donations dollar for dollar to help get the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust’s state-of-the-art Airbus H145 rescue helicopter in the sky.
The Airbus H145 will become operational in the Top of the South in the first half of 2026, marking one of the most significant advancements in emergency aviation the region has ever seen.
NMRHT general manager Paula Muddle says the arrival of the H145 comes with some significant commissioning costs.
“First up we have the second two sets of night vision goggles (NVGs) to pay for. We have been approached by a generous local family who would like to donate $1 for every $1 donated up to $50,000.00 to help these NVGs and other commissioning costs.
“This is an incredibly powerful way for their donation to make double the impact and encourage others to give what they can afford to help fund the gap.”
The NVG technology will improve night rescue safety and capability, replacing aging gear with tech offering better clarity, wider views - like spotting trees/ridgelines - and reduced fatigue, critical as many missions occur after dark.
These essential tools use photocathodes to amplify available light like the moon and stars into clear images, enabling 24/7 operations, but rely heavily on public donations for upgrades, allowing crews to find stranded people in total darkness throughout our region.
“We are incredibly humbled by our community and the ongoing support they provide our service,” Paula says. “This fundraising campaign goes over and above the ongoing annual operating costs of the rescue helicopter service. Together we are all doing our part to ensure we have an increased service, better patient outcome and equity of care for our region.”
Fund the Gap is NMRHT’s community call to action - www.helirescue.co.nz/fundthegap Help purchase night vision goggles at givealittle.co.nz/cause/nvgs
