NZ to replace some emergency helos
 

24 October 2025

Government funds more helicopter replacements

The Government is investing in seven more emergency helicopters to replace some of New Zealand’s ageing air ambulance fleet, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today.

An additional $12.6 million is being invested this financial year, $7.3 million by Health New Zealand and $5.3 million by ACC, to enable the country’s air ambulance helicopter service providers to replace ageing helicopters with newer aircraft.

“In 2024, New Zealand’s helicopter fleet was the oldest in the developed world and the coalition government has invested to help fix that,” Ms Costello says.

“Our air ambulance helicopters play a vital role in saving lives around New Zealand. This is particularly true for those living in remote, rural or regional areas.

“Last year the Government invested $14.7 million to fund nine replacement helicopters. Today’s announcement is additional to that and means that all the oldest helicopters will be replaced with a total of 16 new or near-new helicopters in operation,” Ms Costello says.

“The new helicopters provide improved safety, more reliable service, a better capacity to respond in bad weather conditions, reduced maintenance costs, greater fuel efficiency and better operational performance.

“The additional investment supports the move to a standardised aircraft model. This will improve maintenance and fleet rotation efficiency, enable flexible workforce rostering and reduce pilot training requirements across multiple aircraft.”

The Minister was speaking at an event to mark a new Airbus helicopter joining the Wellington-based Life Flight fleet to provide services to the region. It is the fourth machine in the replacement programme to go into operation since last year’s investment, following the introduction of replacement helicopters in Tauranga in mid-2024, Hamilton in March 2025, and Auckland in May 2025.

Two more replacement helicopters are in the country and being fitted out ready to go into operation in Auckland and Northland by early 2026. The other helicopters from last year’s investment are expected to operate out of Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, and Taranaki.

Minister Costello said that delivery arrangements are in progress for the extra helicopters announced today and it was hoped most of these would also be in service and operational by mid-next year.

From: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/...r-replacements

It's been a long time coming and not without heartache but the backbone of the NZ HEMS fleet is no longer 35 year old BK117s (regardless of them being upgraded). At a time when budgets across the world are stretched, we should commend NZ Health/ NZ Ambulance for this relatively seismic shift in 5 years.

A tender is expected soon in line with the April white paper which the NZ Health published but how this changes the rather odd model of franchises is still on the table.

Some interesting reading available online, NASO / Health NZ requested feedback from “industry” regarding crew make up, rotary and FW platform preference etc among many other things like who flight crews should be employed by, this list goes on.

I believe it was done in preparation for the new round of contract negotiations

Some interesting reading was put out last year regarding this, NASO / Health NZ requested “industry” feedback regarding Rotary and FW platform preference (H145 for majority of standard operators and H175 / AW169 for those requiring larger platforms Auckland / Northland etc).

They also asked for feedback on crew composition, who medical staff should be employed by etc.

Pretty sure (not 100%) most operators should have H145’s by 4th quarter 2026 or early 2027.

Over the past couple of years operators here have been upgrading their fleets.

Auckland / Northland went to AW169s which are slowly replacing the BKs and S76s but they found some corrosion issues which have kept them grounded for long time.

SRSL have been replacing their BKs with H145D3s - so far in the last 12 months think they have added 4 maybe 5 and two more just arrived with more coming.

HeliOtago - Graeme led the way with new H145D3s and has 3 at the moment with more coming.

GCH in CHCH is replacing their fleet with ex Rega H145D2s.

Its great to see the modernization of the fleets here - but the sad thing is the long pockets - short arms brigade in Wellington ensure the operators are NOWHERE near getting the funding they need to cover the costs - therefore have to go out and do a LOT of fund raising.

Chops89 You are close - only one without H145s is the Auckland/Northland operation who have AW169s.

Sorry, that is correct, I should clarified that they’re the exception.

In fact Northern Rescue Helicopters operates 2 x S 76 C ++'s which are still doing sterling service as the 169's that have been purchased / leased second hand are languishing in the hangar needing a huge amount of work before they can enter service. Buyer ( lessee) beware!

"Auckland / Northland went to AW169s which are slowly replacing the BKs and S76s but they found some corrosion issues which have kept them grounded for long time."

Surprise surprise ! Corrosion in a Leonardo Helo ! Buy a Leonardo and you get Free Corrosion, not Corrosion Free.

From what I was told it only came to light once the whole transmission was removed for a major check otherwise just looking at it you cant tell - might be wrong slightly but thats what I think it was.

Also if i remember correctly the corrosion is in all three of the "new" ones they bought from Europe. Feel free to correct me if i am slightly off track on this.