Our people

Aaron’s journey to Northern Rescue in 2015 followed some interesting roles.

He began flying in 2008 and before moving to the emergency medical sector, flew helicopters in the Torres Staits of Australia and in parts of Canada – a mix of charter, telco, oil and gas and wild animal survey work.

Becoming a pilot on rescue helicopters was always Aaron’s dream.  

He says the best and most satisfying part of doing a job he loves is that no two missions are the same, with different tasks daily and sometimes in challenging environments.  

Above all, he has an overwhelming sense of satisfaction from helping save someone in a potentially life-threatening situation, making the role incredibly rewarding.

Being part of an incredible team and helping make a difference to someone else’s life is the ultimate for Aaron.

Alana is an Emergency Medicine Specialist at Auckland City Hospital. She has been a PHRM Doctor with ARHT since 2011, and loves being able to provide critical-care level medicine outside of the hospital, and the variety of work this job brings.

Alex’s stint with Northern Rescue began in 2021.

Having flown helicopters in the Pacific, Canada and the Southern Alps, he opted for a career in emergency medical services - 16 years after gaining his commercial pilot’s licence.

Alex says the most satisfying flights are completing challenging tasks day or night, knowing that he and his fellow crew members have helped make a difference to the betterment of a patient.

He believes the most important value of the service is its dedicated, passionate and skilled staff - people who strive for the best in themselves for the benefit of their patients.

As a leader in its field, Alex views Northern Rescue is a crucial service to the expanse of Northland.

Alice became part of the Northern Rescue Whangārei team in 2020 before linking with Ardmore crews in 2022.

She has been working as a paramedic since 2014 and is currently working on postgraduate research investigating how to best identify trauma patients who are at high risk of mortality and/or blood transfusion in the pre-hospital setting.  

While mainly based at Ardmore, Alice regularly covers CCP shifts in Whangārei and says she enjoys learning daily due to different locations and patient requirements.

Alice is grateful for the team she works with – in a scope that is constantly expanding.

She thrives in pre-hospital care and believes Northern Rescue is an organisation where clinicians can continue developing and being highly effective in their endeavours to help patients.

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Andreas joined Northen Rescue in 2019 where he spent a year working out of our Whangārei base before transferring to Ardmore.

Previously, he worked for 12 years frontline ambulance, predominantly in West Auckland.

Andreas enjoys working with the professional and progressive Northern Rescue team.

Andrew has been a familiar face around Northland Rescue Helicopters for many years.

His path to Northland Rescue Helicopter in 2014 followed a career in the military then time with the Ambulance service. No doubt he is familiar to plenty of Northlanders who he has helped over the years in his role as a Flight Critical Care Paramedic and Para-ACO.

Having grown up in Tutukaka and Pataua North, Andrew always had a goal of returning north and working on the Northern Rescue helicopters.

He thrives on the diversity of not knowing where he will end up on any given day, while gaining the satisfaction of making a difference in the community and helping people out.

Andrew has followed and admired the work of the Auckland Westpac Rescue team for years.

He says it was a genuine privilege to join as a Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Doctor in July 2023.

"I’m looking forward to working alongside, and learning from, such a diverse range of talented people. And Georgia, the team cat, is already a firm friend for life," Andrew says.

Originally from Scotland, Andrew trained and worked as a doctor in the UK, before moving to New Zealand in 2018. He has worked in hospitals across Scotland, London and Auckland, with experience spanning emergency medicine, adult and paediatric intensive care and even some general practice.

In Andrew's spare time, he enjoys a mix of hobbies and interests, including bird watching, gaming, hiking and occasional knitting.

"I can also be found indulging my partner’s love of watching Grey’s Anatomy, whilst explaining, “that’s not really how it works.”

Anil joined ARHT in December 2019.

He was born in the UK with all of his post graduate training done in a major trauma centre in East London. In 2017, his family moved to New Zealand to a much warmer Whangārei where he worked in the Emergency Department at Whangārei Hospital and did inter-hospital retrieval work for the Northland Emergency Services Trust. He then moved to Auckland spending time in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in Starship Hospital and then Middlemore Emergency Department.

As a Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Fellow, he splits his time between ARHT and Auckland City Hospital's Emergency Department. Anil enjoys the diversity of disciplines who come together to form a small team at ARHT. He says everyone has different professional backgrounds and something unique to add to the table. Anil adds the crew enjoy learning from each other on a daily basis.

In his spare time Anil enjoys going on Kiwi adventures with his young family of four as well as running, swimming and kayaking.

Originally born in Taupo and raised in the stunning Bay of Islands, Ati has had a diverse career, including military service, EMS experience and work in the health and safety sector.  

Ati worked with ARHT from 2010 to 2018 and rejoined as an Aircrew Officer in 2024.

Ben joined Northern Rescue in 2021 after completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Paramedicine at AUT in 2013 and embarking on a career with Hato Hone St John.

Since becoming a CCP, Ben has been both  lecturing Paramedicine at AUT while working at Northern Rescue.

Ben says teaming up with a group of like-minded people, in isolated areas, while completing challenging and unique medical and rescue operations gives him great satisfaction – as does delivering the highest quality of care to those in need.  

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Bernie joined Northern Rescue in 2023 after a stint flew rescue in Taupō.

He completed his helicopter training in the late 1990s before starting out in agricultural and commercial flying throughout New Zealand.

He returned to his birth country after many years in Papua New Guinea flying utility operations, long-line work and government and police support.  

Along with building his experience in rescue and IFR operations, Bernie enjoys working with a great bunch of people.

He says it's rewarding being part of a team that comes together to help others when they're potentially having one of the toughest days of their lives - and Bernie believes every mission is about helping someone in need.

Whether it's the patient, their family, or supporting another emergency service, it's a privilege to be trusted in those situations - responsibility Bernie never takes for granted.

Blake began his journey as a Medic in the Royal New Zealand Navy in 2002 before moving to Paramedic career with Hato Hone St John.

He first flew with Northern Rescue in 2020, amidst a ‘once in a 500-year storm’, before becoming full-time with Northern Rescue in 2022.

Blake is a CCP and says the thrill of going down on the wire to help people is a highlight of his work.

Blake enjoys applying his skills to make a positive difference in someone’s hour of need, with the job a team effort alongside motivated and talented crew.

Blake believes it’s important Northlanders know Northern Rescue has their back in emergencies wherever they are.

Bruce Kerr retired as a Northern Rescue Intensive Care Paramedic after 20 years - stepping back in 2016 after completing 3,000 rescue missions. He had previously spent 20 years with Hato Hone St John Ambulance.

An important member of Northern Rescue's team, Bruce works part-time to support rescue patients.

Callan has enjoyed a number of emergency service roles including working as an ambulance officer for 18 years. He still works on a casual basis for St John as an emergency medical technician. Callam also volunteers with the Silverdale Fire Brigade, having done so for 16 years, and has worked on a number of different rescue helicopters in the central North Island region. Joining our team in August 2019, Callan says he's most looking forward to working with the AW169s, continuing to help people and working alongside medical staff he's shared time with on road ambulances over the years.

Cameron linked with Northern Rescue in 2024.

In the 12 years prior, he worked in the pre-hospital ambulance environment - the final two years as a CCP.  

Cameron says he enjoys working with the highly skilled Northern Rescue team, enhancing his clinical skills and developing a skill set through working in the rescue helicopter environment.  

Before embarking on his career in emergency healthcare, Casey spent a decade working as an expedition rafting guide, developing the resilience, leadership, and decision-making skills that continue to serve him in high-pressure environments. He later joined Hato Hone St John as a paramedic, where he held roles in clinical education and on the National Clinical Desk, helping to support and develop frontline clinical practice.

While most of his flying is based out of Auckland, Casey occasionally joins Northern Rescue’s Whangārei crews, bringing his experience and expertise to missions across the region.  

Casey values the challenge of working in demanding environments where attention to detail and getting processes right are essential. He finds great satisfaction in supporting crews to deliver the best possible outcomes for the communities they serve.

Corey Milnes joined the Ardmore team in July 2024. Corey comes to us from the somewhat ‘colder’ climes of Christchurch and is an experienced ‘Crewie’ and EMT who has previously worked for Hato Hone St John, Garden City Helicopters and has also worked in Australia.

Corey was a jockey for 15 years before realising aviation was a better form of transport and way less risky!

Dan joined Northern Rescue in 2011 and splits his time across Northern Rescue’s Ardmore and Whangārei bases.

He joined the RNZAF as an 18-year-old straight of school and spent 15 years flying Iroquois helicopters and fixed wing as an instructor in the Airforce.  

After stints flying jet trainers and deployments to Bougainville, East Timor and Antarctica amongst other locations, Dan also flew in the Red Checkers display team and commanded the RNZAF Pilot Training Squadron before leaving the Airforce to join Northern Rescue.

Dan says helping people out in their time of need is the most satisfying and feel-good part of role, where each team member is critical, trust is implicit and everyone is driven to their job well.  

While every flight is important, Dan enjoys more challenging tasks like boat winching when that teamwork becomes even more essential.

He says overwhelming public support is very humbling and shows just how much the service means to people in all walks of life - with nearly everyone, or someone close to them - having had a personal experience with a rescue helicopter, showing how critical the service is to the community.

We welcomed David aboard to the team in January 2020.

David is an emergency medicine consultant currently working at the Waitemata District Health Board and has been there for 13 years. He is Auckland born and bred and trained here.

David says he is really excited to be a part of the ARHT team and finds his job exciting providing the best patient care often in challenging conditions. "I love working in a team environment and can see the difference the service makes to Kiwis in their time of need," he says.

David is married with two children. He is an avid surfer and loves his tennis. He tries to get outdoors as often as possible and is always up for a new adventure. Other hobbies include skiing, swimming and cycling.

David has spent his entire medical career working in aviation, starting with taking up flying lessons while an intern, eventually gaining CPL in helicopter and fixed wing aircraft. The attempt to combine medicine with flying led to the RNZAF, a brief time working with ARHT, a long spell as Chief Medical Officer at Air New Zealand, teaching with Otago University, a stint at Virgin Australia, and most recently five years as the medical advisor to IATA, the global airline body.  

He is also on the Northern Rescue Board, and advises the NZ Airline Pilots Association, still doing some teaching and occasionally some flying for fun.  

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Don joined Northern Rescue in June 2025 as the new Safety Manager taking over from Simon Thorpe who has returned to a full-time flying role as an Air Crew Officer.  

For the past 30 years Don has been serving in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.  He joined as a pilot and then flew helicopters with No 3 Squadron including deploying on several operations overseas. Don started his safety career within the RNZAF in 2006 and over the next 19 years served in several RNZAF safety roles, accident investigation, airfield management, operational planning and unmanned aircraft systems related positions.

Druvi joined the team in August last year.

After finishing Med school in Auckland in 2014, Druvi spent a few years in Whangarei before completing his emergency training in Auckland. Druvi spent the final year of his training as a Fellow between the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter service and the Auckland Emergency Department (ED) before becoming an ED consultant at Waitemata in the last few weeks, as well as continuing as a consultant doctor at Auckland Westpac Rescue.

Druvi says he loves working for our charity.

"I love being able to take our skills as a small team out into the community, being able to make a difference in people’s lives often on their worst day, and appreciate our beautiful country at the same time," he says.

Outside of work, Druvi loves spending time with his wife and two active toddler boys.

"I like to get stuck into a bit of home DIY, dabble in a bit of gardening, and indulge in basically any sport. Up the Wahs!"

Eddie joined the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters as a Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Fellow in February 2024.

Originally from Edinburgh in Scotland, he studied medicine at Aberdeen University before consolidating his medical training in the north of Scotland in Inverness and Aberdeen. 

Eddie moved to Auckland in 2018 to take up a post as an emergency medicine registrar and has continued his training in emergency medicine as well as with the Intensive Care College. One of the reasons to move to Auckland was the better weather, as well as the possibility of a job with Westpac Rescue Auckland - now a reality!

Eddie says, "Working with Westpac Rescue is really helping solidify my love of working in small teams, be that on a primary pre-hospital mission or transferring patients between hospitals."

Outside of work, he enjoys trail running, cycling, mountain biking and spending time with his wife and two Scottish Deerhounds.

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Working as a Northern Rescue Helicopter Critical Care Paramedic in is a world away from Emily’s upbringing in the outskirts of London.

Emily began her career as a Paramedic working for South Central NHS Ambulance Service in the UK.

She then held roles as a CCP for Hato Hone St John Ambulance at Tauranga working on the Critical Care Response Vehicle and was a Paramedic at Ōtorohanga, Ngāruawāhia and Hamilton for Hato Hone St John Ambulance working single and double crewed on ambulance.

Emily is passionate about caring for people and enjoys seeing the relief on the faces of patients and their families when providing help and reassurance at incidents and accidents.

Like her colleagues, she is focused on giving patients exceptional care, while being a great crew member for her colleagues.

After decades flying often challenging utility work in Canada and Papua New Guinea, Fransje made the move to Northern Rescue’s Whangārei base in 2021.

Fransje takes satisfaction on more complex jobs where the entire crew brings their varied skill set together to complete missions.  

He says that while one flight can blend into the next, there’s often one person that - for whatever reason - stands out and reminds you that we can make a significant difference to their outcome.  

They could be a tiny baby, a kid that reminds you of your own, or a patient or family member that somehow makes a connection with you, says Fransje.

Being able to help people through tough events that may have been difficult or impossible to achieve by any other means than by air is why the Northern Rescue Helicopter service exists and is what draws  Fransje to the job.

There are two things you leave the defence force with, aviation experience and a nickname.

Meet Geoff “Polly” Polglase.

Joining the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter service with previous experience on the venerable UH-1 Iroquios as a Helicopter Crewman, Polly served with the Air Force in New Zealand, Antarctica, Solomon Islands and East Timor. After leaving the Air Force, he embarked on a nine year career in real estate. Polly recently set up his own real estate company based in Hobsonville, a place he has called home since he was 17 years old.

From hot climates to the coldest, Polly says flying is in his blood. He joined our team in September 2021.

With 38 years of flying experience, Grant has now devoted 17 years to the emergency medical services sector – the past 14 with Northern Rescue in 2012.

Grant began his aviation career with three years Australia from 1988, before flying in Bougainville and Papua New Guinea for 14 years, then six years in the agricultural sector back in New Zealand.

While supporting Northern Rescue operations as a pilot, instructor and examiner, Grant continues training and checking helicopter pilots around New Zealand and several countries around the world.    

With over 14,500 flight hours, he is proud to work for Northern Rescue and feels privileged to work with such a highly skilled people at the top of their respective professions.  

Grant takes great satisfaction from safely completing technical and challenging jobs, with the most rewarding aspect of his role is being part of a team often making a positive difference to people quite likely having the worst day of their life.  

Greg’s time with Northern Rescue began in 2023.

He engineered on helicopters in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and abroad before training as a pilot in Whakatane, after which he flew in Australia, Mt Cook and Borneo.

Greg says his favourite missions are primary jobs when Northern Rescue is first on scene and time is precious.

Utilising his passion for flying to contribute positively to the Northland community and help people is what makes the job rewarding for Greg.

Hayden joined Northern Rescue in 2024 and is now ten years into his flying career.

Flying rescue helicopters was always his goal, so he began training on helicopters at Ardmore and finished his commercial licence  in Taupo, flying throughout the central North Island.  

He backed this up by adding fixed wing to his resume, before flying out of Auckland on tourism, aerial survey and council utility work.

Hayden says working alongside an incredible group of critical care paramedics and pilots and being a part of a team that makes positive difference on someone’s worst day is the best part of his role at Northern Rescue. 

He believes it is a privilege to fly EMS, providing patients the care they need and getting the crews home safely at the end of the day.

Hugo joined Northern Rescue in 2019 and provides casual shift relief in Whangārei and Ardmore.

During his career he has clocked more than 20 years with Hato Hone St John, where he still maintains a full-time (Echo) Critical Care Paramedic role in Counties/Manukau.

Hugo feels a quiet satisfaction and sense of fulfilment working together as a team and with other agencies, to help people by delivering efficient, professional, high-quality care to our communities.

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Ian has been working for Northern Rescue since November 2021. Initially employed as the Safety Manager he then stepped up to the CEO role in September 2023.

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Ian has spent most of his career as a pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force where he flew the UH-1H Iroquois helicopter and the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Senior roles included Commanding Officer No. 3 Squadron, Director Operations at RNZAF Base Auckland, Air Advisor London and Director of Air Force Safety and Health. After leaving the Air Force Ian spent four years flying A320 aircraft with Air New Zealand.

The team of the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter are excited to welcome on board Jacob “Ox” Lillyman as an Ambassador for our service.

Jacob is an ex-professional Rugby League player who played for the New Zealand Warriors, North Queensland Cowboys and Newcastle Knights and proudly represented Queensland in the State of Origin series.

Being with his Kiwi sweetheart of eight years and mum to his three children, Tui-kay, Jacob is enjoying hanging up his boots and giving his body a “bit of a rest”.

He loves New Zealand for its abundant fishing, beautiful beaches and relaxed way of life. The couple, who spend a lot of time on Waiheke Island, are grateful for the early and safe delivery of their youngest son Xade, on board the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

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James is Northern Rescue’s newest recruit, joining us in 2026.

He trained the Royal New Zealand Air Force and gained most of his 15-years flying experience as an A109 instructor and on exchange in the UK flying the CH47.

Although new to the sector, James says joining a team with high levels of experience providing a phenomenal service to the region, while providing urgent medical care to make a real difference to someone's life, is very satisfying.

James began his career with Hato Hone St John in 2014, working on ambulances as an EMT and ICP before joining Northern Rescue in 2021.

James says it's important to be a reliable member of a high-performance team, knowing that everyone's role is essential and that they rely on others as much as they rely on him.

Finding out when a patient who was very severely ill/injured has made a good recovery is a fulfilling part of the job.

Outside of his role with Northern Rescue, James has taught undergraduate and postgraduate paramedicine at AUT.

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James has dedicated 13 of his extensive 40-year pilot career to Northern Rescue.

He joined the British Royal Navy as an apprentice engineer in 1978 and by 1985 had persuaded the organisation to let him change direction to become a naval pilot.  

That resulted in him flying a variety of navy helicopters in several operational deployments. He joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 2005 flying Seasprite helicopters until 2013, when he joined Northern Rescue – firstly in Whangārei and then Auckland.  

James was one of the first pilots to fly Northern Rescue’s new AW169 helicopters and  says the most satisfying part of his role is being part of a high performing team helping others.

He feels privileged using his years of training and experience helping the community, while passing on knowledge to the new generation of rescue helicopter crew who will continue the work into the future.

Jan has been a non-executive director since 2011across several New Zealand listed companies and other organisations, including Deputy Chair of Air New Zealand until 2021.

She is currently Chair of Port of Auckland, Chair of the Accident Compensation Commission, and adirector with Serko.

In 2024, Jan was named Deloitte Top 200 Chair of the Year.

She is a Chartered Accountant and retired from KPMG in 2011 after a 30-year career in NZ and Canada with the firm, specialising in Audit, Risk Advisory and Due Diligence Services.

Jan actively participated in sailing and governance of the sport, including being elected as a Vice President of World Sailing from 2016 to 2020 and President and Chair of Yachting New Zealand from 2007 to 2013.

Jan joined Northern Rescue in 2022. Her diverse career has included 17 years as a Detective in the NZ Police and prior to joining Northern Rescue she completed 12 years as Sales Manager with NZME Northland.  

Jan has spent many years as a trustee on numerous school boards, along with 15 years involvement in Rotary and the Rotary Youth Exchange Programme.  

Jan believes in fostering strong relationships with Northland communities, those who may need Northern Rescue's lifesaving service or who simply support the cause. She loves working with the team at Northern Rescue.

Jared joined Northern Rescue as a CCP in 2020.

After studying paramedicine from 2009, he worked full time on ambulances in Auckland, Christchurch and Whangarei for Hato Hone St John for many years.

Jared enjoys being part of a highly motivated and dedicated team working together to serve the people of Northland

He feels the ability to provide early safe optimal medical care is crucial for patients living in remote and rural parts of Northland.

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Jason joined Northern Rescue in 2019 and has been flying for over 30 years.

He first soloed at 16-years-old and during a 14-year RNZAF career, flew in Antarctica, the Pacific Islands and East Timor. He spent two years with the Royal Navy flying Sea King Commando helicopters at sea, and in Bosnia and Central America before transferring to the Royal New Zealand Navy assisting with operations in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.  

After nearly 30 years in Defence, he left to fly the Eagle helicopter for the New Zealand Police, and occasionally for the Wellington and Taranaki Rescue Helicopters.

Jason enjoys the challenging flying environment and working within the tightly knit Northern Rescue team of highly skilled professionals who make a positive difference for people of Auckland and the upper North Island.

Johnny loves serving the community he grew up in after joining Northern Rescue in 2023 - 30 years after he started flying helicopters.

Raised in Whangārei Heads, his father Ray was involved in the agriculture aviation sector, so it was inevitable that Johnny’s interest would start young.

For Johnny, it’s great to contribute as part of a small team providing essential services to his community, citing life in an air ambulance service as challenging and rewarding.

His work is about ensuring the safety of the crew, patients and aircraft, along with providing the best air ambulance / EMS service possible.

He had previously worked throughout North and South Island on various types of flying including scenic flights, filming, firefighting, heliskiing, construction, powerline operations, along with mining, oil and gas throughout many countries - clocking up around 10,000 hours in their air.

Johnny joined Northern Rescue from the Royal New Zealand Navy, where he flew and instructed on the Seasprite.  

The highlight of his military career was anti-piracy and counter-narcotic operations off the Horn of Africa and Somalia when on exchange with the Royal Navy flying the Lynx.

As another newbie to the emergency services sector, Johnny enjoys the real difference each mission can make to our patients.  

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Johs began with Northern Rescue in 2020, five years after he embarked on his aviation career.

Despite growing up in the Far North township of Kaeo, it was stints working, climbing and skiing in South Island and Canada - which included search and rescue volunteering - that gave him the helicopter bug.

After flying helicopters in Australia and New Zealand, Johs felt search and rescue capability was a natural avenue to work towards.  

Securing his Northern Rescue role amidst familiar territory has enabled Johs to utilise what he describes as an incredible machine to do exactly that.

Being part of a team focused on helping people when they are having a bad day is incredibly rewarding. Johs says the drive to achieve excellence and improve Northern Rescue’s response capability is all in the pursuit of helping people in the community when they need it most.

Jono joined Northern Rescue in 2022.

He spent the previous 11 years in the ambulance service working as a paramedic, clinical coach and finally dispatching helicopters around New Zealand on the National Air Desk.

Jono says he feels blessed to work with an amazing group of high-performing individuals.

Jon joined Northern Rescue in 2012 and has been a pilot for 18 years.

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Before aviation, he worked in the IT industry as a programmer. He then trained as a pilot at Ardmore Airfield, building his flying experience and qualifying as a B-Cat Flight and commercial pilot.  
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Jon rates the most satisfying part of his job as contributing to the safety of the organisation through instruction and training. Helping pilots develop their skills, improve their decision making, and build confidence is incredibly rewarding.
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Jon believes safety is at the heart of everything we do and by prioritising high quality training and mentoring, crews remain well prepared for the challenges they face.
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Knowing the time invested in instruction can directly contribute to safer operations and better outcomes for patients, crews, and the wider community is what makes the role so meaningful to him.

Dr. Jono Wills is an emergency specialist based in Tauranga and has been working as a prehospital and retrieval medicine consultant for ARHT since 2019.

Residing in Mt Maunganui, he enjoys fishing, surfing, and exploring the outdoors with his wife and their three young children.

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Josh has been part of the Northern Rescue team since 2015, following stints in Nelson, London and Europe.

Combining his skillset with the medical crews to bring assistance to people in times of need is incredibly satisfying.

He says helicopters are superb, versatile machines and being the pilot of a helicopter is a privilege.

Josh believes being the back stop, and sometimes the last option available to a patient, is immensely rewarding.

Whether that is due to remote access requiring a winch, offshore search and rescue or being able to bring high level medical care in a timely fashion, Josh says Northern Rescue provides an important service to the community.

Josh Sanders has been a CCP for a decade and joined Northern Rescue in 2019.

Prior to that he had studied Paramedicine through AUT before working for Hato Hone St John for six years.

Josh enjoys putting into practise what he has spent years training for.  

Whether than is medicine at the highest prehospital levels, or land/water winch training, he says every part of the job is satisfying.

Josh hopes he and his colleagues will continue to lead and further develop prehospital care in New Zealand, with the added challenges of working around remote environments, patient accessibility and operating out of an aircraft.

Joy first flew with Northern Rescue in 2020.

She then spent three years working on the Queenstown Rescue Helicopter, completed a short stint with Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue before returning to  Northland in 2024.

Joy served 14 years in New Zealand Army with the Royal New Zealand Army Medical Corps – her final posting as the Senior Medic for the New Zealand Special Air Service.

Thirteen years into her career as a CCP, she says being part of a team committed to delivering the best possible care, continually pushes her to improve.

Having grown up in Northland, providing high-quality critical care to people in a geographically isolated region is important to Joy.

She has strong appreciation for challenges patients have accessing timely pre-hospital intervention in remote areas of the region. Being part of a team delivering definitive care makes a meaningful difference to patient outcomes.

Karl’s journey with Northern Rescue began as a CCP in 2011 before progressing to the Chief Paramedic role in 2016 and Clinical Operations Manager four years later.

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He was promoted to COO in 2024 and while his role is no longer frontline operational, it provides the opportunity to support the organisation, its people, and the delivery of safe and effective aeromedical services across Northland, Auckland and Coromandel.

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Twenty-seven years into his paramedicine career, Karl feels privileged to work alongside dedicated professionals .

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Knowing that Northern Rescue’s kaupapa genuinely matters to the people and communities it serves is important to Karl.

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Whether it's supporting a critically ill patient, assisting someone injured in a remote location, or helping a family in need, Karl is proud that Northern Rescue provides a service that has a positive and lasting impact

Kate joined ARHT in February 2021 as a Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine fellow.

She's been in New Zealand for the last seven years, working in Hawkes Bay and Christchurch before moving to Auckland to join our team.

Kate is nearing the end of her emergency medicine training and currently undertaking a diploma in Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine with a view to continue to work in this field.

The best thing about the job for her so far, Kate says is, "being a member of an awesome team and having my son say, 'that's Mama's Helicopter' whenever he sees the chopper overhead."

When Kate's not at work or chasing after her two year old, she loves to be out on her bike or spending time with her whānau.

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What month you joined ARHT.

Kathryn joined the team in January 2023

After initially training in paramedicine, she moved on to complete medical school. Since then, Kathryn is completing her training in adult and paediatric emergency medicine. She currently splits her time between working as a Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Doctor and the Auckland City Hospital Emergency Department. 

Of her time with the Auckland Westpac Rescue crew? "I enjoy working with such an enthusiastic and dedicated multi-disciplinary team who are always striving to provide the best quality care to our patients, regardless of the challenges that the environment throws our way," she tells us.

Outside of her work, Kathryn keeps busy with trail running, eating apple crumble and convincing people to let her play with their dogs! 

Kerry is a born and bred Aucklander and works as an Anaesthetist at North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals. He has also worked as a Flying Doctor for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Alice Springs Australia and throughout Africa with the AMREF Flying Doctors based in Kenya. Kerry's thrilled to be part of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust which he considers a forward-thinking team, helping provide world class care in world class helicopters.

When not working, he enjoys getting to the beach and spending as much time as possible with his wife and two boys.

Kim joined Northern Rescue in 2004 and has been involved in various roles.

She has taught school students our Crew Fitness Test, conducted early morning boot camps for staff and managed the Community Fundraising Team.

Kim still gets excited about coming to work after all these years and feels like she does a good deed every day.

She is proud being part of Northern Rescue and working alongside a wonderful bunch of people.

Lachlan joined Northern Rescue in early 2026.

He was originally born and raised in Whangarei and after completing his Bachelor of Health Science Paramedicine in 2013, he started as an EMT with Hato Hone St John in Auckland the following year. In 2015 he became a Paramedic, followed by ICP and then CCP in 2020 and 2022 respectively.

In 2023 he joined the NZ Urban Search and Rescue Team and gained qualification as a CAT 2 Technician/Medic.

Lachlan finds great satisfaction in seeing the hours of training from paramedics and pilots come together cohesively to deliver excellent patient care.

He believes everyone requiring emergency assistance should receive the same high level of care in a timely manner.

Leah began working for Northern Rescue as a winch medic in 2016, three years after qualifying as a Paramedic.

Her career began with Hato Hone St John in Auckland in 2011, before moving to Whangārei.

She was rostered fulltime on Northern Rescue Helicopters in 2018.

Leah loves search and rescue, remote work and being able to assist the community when no other service can reach them. 

She enjoys helping the community in a meaningful way, when people count on paramedics to be there. Leah says without Northern Rescue, many people in Northland would be without a vital lifeline.

Leanda joined Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust in 2015 as Executive Assistant to the CEO and Board before moving into the role of Events Manager within the Fundraising team, gaining a broad range of experience across the whole of the business.  In 2021 she moved back into the operational side taking the role of Manager of the CEO Office with Northern Rescue, providing executive support to the Boards of Northern Rescue, ARHT and NEST, the CEO and senior management team.  

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Leanda enjoys the interaction within and across business units and ensuring alignment of strategy and goals.

Marcel’s connection with Northern Rescue dates back to the mid-1990s, before the introduction of full-time medical crews. His long-standing involvement with the service reflects a deep commitment to emergency and rescue care.Prior to joining Northern Rescue, Marcel worked with Hato Hone St John in both Tairua and Auckland, building extensive experience in pre-hospital emergency care and patient transport.

Marcel's passion for flying remains as strong as ever. He thrives on the variety that each shift brings—never knowing where he’ll go, who he’ll meet, or how he’ll be able to help.

Equally important to Marcel is his work whānau. He values being part of a close-knit team of highly skilled and passionate professionals who support one another and work together to deliver exceptional care.

For Marcel, one of the most rewarding aspects of the role is the opportunity to connect with and assist people during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Whether responding to a pre-hospital emergency, conducting a rescue mission, undertaking an inter-hospital transfer, or supporting regional and national disaster responses, he takes great satisfaction in providing reassurance, calm, and expert care.

Marinus joined Northern Rescue in 2024, 15 years after he embarked on his flying career.

Most of his flying has been done in South Africa where he has held roles in vehicle recovery, VIP charter flights, aerial filming and marine pilot services. 

Marinus believes the decisions he and his team make are critical to the role of a pilot, due to the direct impact those calls can have on people's lives.

After completing hundreds of missions for Northern Rescue, he says seeing positive patient outcomes makes the job worthwhile.

Tinny joined ARHT in 2004 as a Crewman. Prior to this he served with the NZ Airforce for 14 years, conducting operations in various theatres.

Max joined Northern Rescue in 2019, having begun his aviation career in 1999 as a helicopter crewman with the Royal New Zealand Air Force.  

After leaving the RNZAF in 2010, he gained further experience in Australia with Boeing Defence before returning to New Zealand to work with the Royal New Zealand Navy.  

With over 4,000 flight hours, Max has worked alongside hundreds of pilots.

As an Aircrew Officer Instructor, Max is motivated by the dedication and professionalism of his colleagues.

He considers himself fortunate to work with a team operating at the highest level and his favourite part of the role are call-outs involving winch missions.

Megan joined Northern Rescue in July 2026 following a year as General Manager of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust.

As General Manager – Development and External Relations, she brings extensive senior leadership experience across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. She leads Northern Rescues fundraising, development and external relations functions, helping to strengthen support for Northern Rescue’s lifesaving mission. and long-term sustainability.

Megan was drawn to Northern Rescue by its compelling mission, dedicated team and its deep connection to the communities it serves. She is committed to working alongside partners, supporters and stakeholders to strengthen community support to ensure these essential services remain available whenever they are needed - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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Gillie joined Northern Resue in 2024 and has flown out of our Whangārei and Ardmore bases in all three helicopter types – Sikorsky S-76, AW169 and BK117.

Prior to his, his flying background was in aerial firefighting, agricultural spraying and top dressing.  

Gillie says his goal was always to fly for a rescue organisation that had IFR capability. To put himself in a favourable position and ensure that dream became a reality, he completed the New Zealand IFR theory exams and put myself through a fixed wing licence/IFR training.

He finds satisfaction in seeing positive outcomes for people experiencing what is potentially the worst day of their life.

Gillie says the most important part of his job is witnessing the best of humanity in action.  

Seeing colleagues put themselves on the line to help others and having amazing aircraft, crews and medical equipment available is extremely humbling - constant reminders of how fortunate we are to call New Zealand home.

Murray joined the Board of Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) in 2013 and in 2024 was appointed a Director of Northern Rescue Helicopter Limited.

He has a long background in human resources having worked in large manufacturing businesses, the Employer’s and Manufacturer’s Association and currently running his own employment relations consultancy business.

Murray has a strong interest in the community and business sectors in Northland. He is a Member of the Northland Chamber and was a long time Board Member until 2024.  He lives in Kamo, Whangārei and often hears and sees rescue helicopters flying overhead and is pleased to know that someone in need is being attended to.

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Nick joined ARHT as a PHRM Doctor in 2016 and also works as an Emergency Medicine Physician in the Auckland region.

Prior to returning to Auckland in 2011, Nick worked and lived in the UK and Australia for many years. His spare time is spent with his wife, enjoying watching their young son Sebastian grow, explore and develop.

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Originally hailing from London, UK, Nigel spent seven and a half years in the RAF on a helicopter squadron. After leaving the RAF, Nigel worked as a photo manager on board cruise ships for several cruise lines, sailing throughout the Caribbean.

Returning back to the UK was not an option (after coming from such warm temperatures), so he moved out to Florida where he lived for 20 years. Here, he had his own commercial photography company and real estate brokerage, selling  hotels.

After arriving on the shores of New Zealand, Nigel got right into the kiwi culture, racing kayaks and Waka amas for a local team and training for his pilot license.

Orla joined the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter team in 2021, bringing experience in critical care and aeromedical operations.

After completing her progression from Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) in Christchurch, Orla secured her first flight medic position with the West Coast Rescue Helicopter service in Greymouth. During this time, she also worked as a Right Care Advisor for the South Island, supporting patients to access the most appropriate healthcare services.

She later served as a Critical Care Paramedic providing advanced pre-hospital care across Rotorua, Taupō, and the surrounding region.

Orla thrives on the challenges of her role with Northern Rescue, where every mission demands clinical excellence, adaptability, and teamwork. She particularly enjoys the rescue aspect of the job, which adds an extra layer of complexity to delivering critical care from the scene of an incident through to hospital. For Orla, the highlight of the role is working alongside a highly skilled and dedicated team committed to making a difference.

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Paul was an insurance broker with 35 years of experience in the New Zealand insurance industry. He owned and operated an insurance brokerage firm which he sold in 2012 before retiring from the insurance industry in 2015.

Since 1999, Paul has been a Trustee of the Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) and is its current chair. Paul is also a Director of Northern Rescue Helicopter Ltd who operate the rescue helicopter service in the northern region of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Paul joined the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust Board in 2025.

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Paul arrived in Invercargill from the UK in 2008 and finished his emergency medicine training in Auckland, working as an ARHT PHRM Fellow in 2015.

Despite moving to Tauranga to take on a role as their trauma lead in the emergency department, he continues to fly with the Trust twice a month.  When not traveling between both cities, he loves kayak fishing, cooking curries and spending time with his little kiwi daughter.

Paul has been flying on Northern Rescue helicopters since 2009 as a Critical Care Paramedic, Aircrew Officer, and Aircrew Officer Instructor.

His career in paramedicine began in 2006 after completing 11 and a half years of service in the New Zealand Army, first in the Infantry Regiment and later in the New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment.

In 2017, Paul completed a PhD in Clinical Science, with a research focus on paramedic-led pre-hospital emergency care, particularly the treatment of patients suffering heart attacks.

Now with more than 4,000 rescue and medical retrieval missions to his name, the born-and-bred Northlander serves as Deputy Clinical Operations Manager for the Whangarei base, where he remains committed to supporting and developing his team while ensuring the highest standard of patient care is delivered, regardless of circumstances.

Paul joined Northern Rescue in 2009 flying Sikorsky S-76’s out of Whangārei, then the BK117 at Mechanics Bay.

Paul first flew aeroplanes back in 1989, before transitioning to helicopters as an instructor at North Shore, a commercial pilot around Auckland and then 15 years for NZ Police on Eagle.

He feels lucky to have now gone full circle and be flying with great crews out of Northern Rescue’ Whangārei and Ardmore bases.

The most satisfying part of Paul’s job is watching paramedics deliver world class health care to patients.  

Just as important is working with a dedicated team helping people out when they are having a bad day - exciting, rewarding and somewhat humbling all at the same time.

As an instructor and examiner, Paul is honoured to help the next generation of senior pilots develop and after 7000 flight hours he still loves his job.

Paul joined Northern Rescue in 2016 after a 30-year career in the toy industry.

He had stints with Warehouse, Deka and Thos Holdsworth & Sons for 20 years before bringing his expertise to Northern Rescue.

Phil joined Northern Rescue in 2011 and still enjoys his daily interaction with our supporters and being a part of the fundraising team.

You’ve seen her on the telly, most recently as presenter for Fair-Go and defender of Kiwis who have been left with very little options.  Pippa Wetzell is a welcome addition to many of our homes, at least once a week, and she often does the odd stint on Seven Sharp and Breakfast too.

Pippa started working at TVNZ, one of our Corporate Sponsors, inthe 90s, straight out of a Communications Degree. Working the overnight shift on the news desk, Pippa’s roles included reporting and producing for Breakfast, Midday News, and Business. She was also a reporter for ONE News for five years, before taking up the presenting role on Breakfast.

A busy mum as well, we are very fortunate to have Pippa on board as our Ambassador, flying the flag for her local Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service on top of her everyday life. Pippa tells us that supporting the service is an easy choice.

“There are so many wonderful stories of people whose lives have been saved because of the Auckland and Coromandel Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service,” she says, “I’m born and bred in Auckland and we holiday regularly in the Coromandel too. My family has spent a lot of time out and about exploring these beautiful regions and appreciate the incredible service the helicopter provides.”

Pippa has another special connection with the Trust. “My Dad was a surf lifesaver at Piha for many years starting in the 1960s. I understand the first rescue helicopter service was based out of Piha in the 70s and he would assist with rescues. It’s something he’s very proud of.”

“We Kiwis are an adventurous bunch,” she tells us, “We love to get out and explore our beautiful country and I wholeheartedly encourage that. It does mean though that you can find yourself out of the reach of facilities that you might need should an accident strike – you never know when you might need them.”

Pippa’s family have never needed to use the service themselves and she hopes they never will. “Every time I see them flying, it gives me pause for thought. You realise there is a family somewhere who is going through significant angst.”

Pippa’s three kids think helicopters are “fabulous”. “Ambulance helicopters (as they like to call them) are the ultimate though! They’re keen to have a close up look, but look, if I’m being totally honest, I hope they never have to get too close a look!”

We hope so too. From our crew to you, thank you Pippa for your generous support. 

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Richard joined Northern Rescue as a crewman/co-pilot in 2012.

With a background in sailing, being a qualified Naval Architect and having been a captain of super yachts for over ten years, aviation was quite a career shift.

Richard Sharp has been on board Northern Rescue Helicopter flights since 2009, initially during his time at Hato Hone St John.

He trained as a winch medic and rescue swimmer in 2016, performing the role alongside his regular ambulance duties before training as a winch operator and fully joining Northern Rescue in 2019 when the Whangārei operation moved to have both aircraft double crewed.

With more than 20 years caring for people as a lifeguard, ambulance operator or CCP, Richard particularly enjoys bringing reassurance and relief to a patient and their family in one of the worst moments of their lives.

Being able to get specialist care to all Northlanders, regardless of remoteness and in a timely fashion is crucial, he says.

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Rob has been with Northern Rescue since 2009 – flying out of Auckland and Coromandel over the years.

His first career path was operating high speed ferries in Wellington Harbour, Cook Strait, New Caledonia and Auckland, at which point he opted for ten years flying fixed wing.

That led him to his helicopter licence in 2002.

Being part of a team which delivers help to people when they really need assistance is immensely satisfying, while continuously delivering the highest capability rescue service to Kiwis is always Rob’s aim. 

Thirty years into his career and 16 years after he joined Northern Rescue, Rob is still inspired by the job.

After leaving high school, military helicopter flying had many exciting moments, but the most rewarding were the infrequent medical and Search and Rescue jobs - which he has done frequently at Northern Rescue since 2010.

Rob is fascinated watching what clinicians do for patients, due to the complexity of the scenes they’re working within, while always needing to keep a sharp mind and remaining compassionate.  

And when weather is bad, he is glad Northern Rescue has the ability to fly through the weather on instruments only to get to patients – a capability he is very passionate about.  

Rob says when a patient and their family is having the worst day of their life, it’s a privilege to relieve them of some worry, expedite their care and work towards a better outcome and recovery than if Northern Rescue hadn’t been called out.

Rob is a Northern Rescue CCP covering both Auckland and Whangārei bases.

He has been with the organisation since 2007 when he began his aeromedical career in Northland.

His career in paramedicine began in 1999 with Hato Hone St John Auckland, first as an Ambulance Officer/EMT before progressing through clinical qualifications and reaching his current clinical level in 2005. He has been part of Northern Rescue’s clinical education and training team since 2019.

Rob finds great satisfaction in being part of a cohesive team of highly trained professionals who work together as a one unified team  to accomplish a mission and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

His dual role in clinical operations and education allows him to observe how clinical excellence contributes directly to positive patient outcomes. The most important part of Rob’s job is a focus on that single patient, in a single moment, and the positive impact he can make in that patient's journey.

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After a successful career in real estate, Rob returned for a second stint at Northern Rescue in 2018. He had previously worked with the fundraising team for five years.

Ros started with Northern Rescue in 2011, bringing her passion for providing great service and helping people.

She enjoys being part of a team which delivers such an essential lifesaving service to people in Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel.

Ross began his CCP career with Northern Rescue in 2012, after involvement in pre-hospital care dating back to 2000.

His paramedic career began with training at AUT to become an EMT, before joining the road ambulance service.

Ross now splits his time between Northern Rescue’s Auckland and Whangārei bases.

While he loves flying and looking after patients, Ross gets a kick out of managing a team so passionate about the care and compassion they provide to people in the Northern region.

He says Northern Rescue consistently provides high level care to patients and their families where the need is – from hospital transfers to roadside crashes or a rescue in an austere environment.  

The best bit of the job is being part of a team committed to continual improvement in aviation, medicine and rescue.

Russell has been flying helicopters for more than four decades and joined Northern Rescue in 2022. 

He began his career fresh out of school, joining the Royal New Zealand Air Force and remaining there for 20 years, before joining Helicopters NZ flying to oil platforms in Taranaki and other company locations around the world.  

As Flight Operations Manager, Russell regularly flies throughout Auckland, Coromandel and Northland. 

He says it is rewarding getting out into the community on a flight to bring help to people needing assistance, commonly working with people he knows in Northland.  

Russell says doing work that makes a difference to the patient – often a lifesaving difference – is great to be part of, particularly amongst the more remote, rural areas which are often difficult to access by road and which rely so heavily on the Northern Rescue for timely intervention. 

Rusty has worked at ARHT since 2011, and been an Intensive Care Paramedic for 11 years.

He loves the challenges and rewarding nature of the pre-hospital environment.

Rusty has worked at Northern Rescue since 2011 and been an Intensive Care Paramedic for 11 years.

He loves the challenge and rewarding nature of the pre-hospital environment working alongside his Northern Rescue colleagues.

Ryan linked with Northern Rescue in 2019, three years after qualifying as a CCP.

His pathway towards paramedicine began with first aid training through surf lifesaving at Ocean Beach, Whangārei Heads. This facilitated entry to the AUT’s paramedicine undergraduate programme.  

After fully graduating from AUT, he worked for Hato Hone St John in West and Central Auckland. A move back to Whangārei soon coincided in training as an on-call winch medic/rescue swimmer with Northern Rescue and further tertiary study.

Ryan’s best moments are working as a team to improve the condition of the patients, while reducing their pain and improving their outcomes.

Giving patients the best chance of survival and recovery - regardless of where or how rural they might be - and improving the access to healthcare for Northlanders is the constant focus of Ryan and his colleagues.

Sam joined Northern Rescue in 2025 as a Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Fellow. Originally from the UK, he graduated from medical school in Bristol and began his career as a junior doctor in the NHS. Seeking more sunshine and better coffee, he migrated with his wife to New Zealand in 2017.

He went on to complete specialist training in Emergency Medicine and now works at Auckland City Hospital, alongside his role in pre-hospital and retrieval medicine.

He looks forward to being part of a highly trained and dynamic team whilst developing his skills at delivering care in the pre-hospital setting.

Outside of medicine, Sam enjoys hiking, cycling, and water-based adventures with his wife and their two young children.

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Sara’s path to Northern Rescue started with first-hand experience as a patient aboard a potentially life-saving flight on an Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Senior clinician and colleague Rob Gemmell provided her with critical care on that mission and having already trained in first aid and grown up as a surf lifeguard at Bethells Beach, that flight to Auckland City Hospital fully sparked Sara’s drive to one day join Northern Rescue.

Upon completing a Bachelor of Health Science in Paramedicine, she spent seven years working on ambulances before joining Northern Rescue in 2021.

Sara says she gains satisfaction as a CCP through the dynamics of the work - with no two days the same.

She enjoys the combination of critical thinking, teamwork and adapting to the different clinical and operational challenges in a fast-paced environment.

Providing members of the community with high-quality treatment and getting them to definitive care quickly, knowing that it can positively impact their outcome, is the ultimate satisfaction.

Simoné joined the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter team as a clinical fellow in January 2025. Originally from South Africa, she has lived and worked in Australia and moved to New Zealand in search of snake-free green hills, snowy mountains and black sands.

She is honoured and humbled to work with such a dynamic, innovative and experienced team. Having grown up in rural areas, she has a whole-hearted understanding and passion for bringing world class medicine to all patients, regardless of the geographical challenges.

Off the job, she is completing her fixed wing private pilot’s licence and loves mountain biking, surfing, rock climbing and exploring beautiful Aotearoa.

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Simon joined Northern Rescue in in 2016 as a crewman co-pilot before progressing to Aircraft Captain.

Simon began his aviation career in Australia’s Northern Territory, flying in remote environments and in land management operations, involving controlled burns and feral animal control.

Simon values the team-based nature of the role, where each crew member brings their own specialist skills to deliver effective rescue and medical response.

He finds the work most rewarding in providing reassurance to New Zealanders that support is available when needed, particularly for those heading into remote areas.

Simon (Thorpy) has been working for the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter service since October 2021, initially as an Air Crew Officer (ACO) on a casual basis, before joining the team full-time on appointment as the Safety Manager in October 2023. In June 2025 he started a role as an ACO again.

The majority of Simon’s working life has been in aviation. After initial service in the NZ Army, Simon transferred on selection for air crew training across to the RNZAF and has operated as a crew member on both rotary and fixed wing aircraft, serving in New Zealand and on operations overseas. After the RNZAF Simon held airport and airline management roles with Air New Zealand, followed by a brief stint in the maritime sector at Ports of Auckland as an operations manager prior to his current appointment as Safety Manager.

Simon joined Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust as a Trustee in October2018 and was appointed as Chairman of the Trust from June 2019 until June 2023.He was appointed as the ARHT representative to the Board of Northern Rescue Helicopter Limited at its inception in 2020.

He has enjoyed working for 45 years in the finance industry. Initially in an accounting role, followed by 12 years in investment banking, before shifting into an investment management role at the Alvarium Group where he worked for 28 years, retiring from active participation at the end of 2024. He remains a Shareholder and Director of this prestigious company.

Flying is one of his passions. Simon has flown helicopters since the early 2000’s, and in more recent times, he has enjoyed flying fixed wing aircraft as well, holding a private pilot’s license for planes.

Stephen joined the team in August 2021.

He is training to be an Emergency Medicine registrar working throughout the major Auckland hospitals, and Sydney prior to that.

Stephen is interested in trauma management,  improvements in clinical care and teaching junior doctors. He has always held the ARHT team in high regard and even helped with fund-raising when he was in high school!

Working with such highly trained and motivated people has been fantastic he tells us.  

"I have been impressed by what the what the crew are able to achieve in challenging clinical environments," Stephen says, "The training has been fantastic. I particularly enjoyed doing winch training,  and  the views are excellent!

Outside of work, Stephen is often seen running around after a very energetic two year old and an even more energetic Springer Spaniel. He likes to get out of Auckland and go hiking or scuba diving in the Coromandel.

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Across 31 years of flying, Steve has dedicated 24 years to the emergency medical services sector – all of those at Northern Rescue.

Steve first started flying in 1995 and joined the service in late 2000. He left in 2005 for a stint in Australia before joining Westpac Rescue in Auckland.

Along the way he flew peace keeping missions in the Solomon Islands, offshore in support of oil rig operations and for rescue helicopter services in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. He returned to the Northern Rescue’s Whangārei operation in 2009.

With over 8000 flight hours behind him, Steve has huge respect for his fellow pilots and Critical Care Paramedics .

He currently holds the roles of Aircraft Captain and Whangārei Base Manager.

Steve believes one of the ultimate uses of a helicopter is winching people to safety and what gives him the most satisfaction is helping people in their time of need.

Stuart was welcomed to the team in December 2021.For the previous two and a half years, he was working out of the Hamilton base as a Crewman with the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Stuart's favorite part of the job is being part of a well-oiled team, being called upon to put all of his training into practice.

He enjoys getting a tough or technical job done safely and efficiently, improving the patient's outcome. "The ability to make a real difference to a person's life and turn a bad situation into a good one is what keeps me enthusiastic and striving for the gold standard," Stuart says.

Sue joined Northern Rescue in 2019 and says there is nothing better than working in the emergency medical services sector across Northland and Auckland.

Sue first tasted EMS flying in 2001 and despite some breaks to fly off-shore oil rigs, the move North has been extremely rewarding.

For Sue, flying Northern Rescue helicopters is the pinnacle of her aviation career.

Sue has huge respect for her fellow pilots, making it a special organisation to be a part of in helping the generous and supportive Northland community 24/7.

Teneale's time with Northern Rescue began in 2024.

Through a background in surf lifesaving, she developed a love for helping others in their time of need, which evolved into a journey in paramedicine which she has been practicing for over a decade.

Teneale grew up wanting to work on the Auckland's rescue helicopters and to get involved in search and rescue operations, combining both with the medical field - so joining Northern Rescue was the ultimate.

She enjoys the challenge of learning new skills as a CCP and working with the team.

Tim joined Northern Rescue in 2024.  

He always had a passion for aviation and started flying helicopters in 2008 while also becoming a specialist helicopter engineer. Tim spent 12 years in the RNZAF as an aircraft engineer.  

Tim sees working for Auckland Rescue as a great combination of his passion for flying and the outdoors, together with helping his local community by being part of a close-knit team.

Tony has been involved with Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) since 2007 and was appointed to the role of Chief Financial Officer for Northern Rescue in 2020.

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Tony is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) and the Institute of Directors (IoD) and was previously a Director of a Chartered Accounting firm in Whangārei for 18 years.

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He went to school in Whangārei, has spent most of his life in Whangārei. He is also a Trustee on Sport Northland Board and Hockey Foundation and has previously been a Trustee on the Hockey New Zealand Board.

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