Frontline St John services in the South are to be boosted by more than 30 full-time staff over the next four years.
The Government yesterday announced this year's Budget will include almost $60 million in additional funding for St John over the next four years.
The move, which creates 375 new emergency medical and paramedic roles across the country, will bring an end to single-crewed ambulances.
St John says the funding will allow the recruitment of 430 frontline staff.
But Central Otago After Hours Inc chairwoman Christine Williamson, who this month raised concerns about inadequate ambulance resources in Central Otago, says she is reserving her judgement until the plan's details are revealed.
The move was met by criticism from Ambulance Professionals First, the union representing the majority of New Zealand's ambulance professionals, and YesWeCare.nz, a coalition of health sector and community workers calling for an overhaul of health funding.
''Ending single-crewing is one of the most significant developments in our ambulance service history,'' St John chief executive Peter Bradley said.
''We will be able to recruit 430 frontline jobs over four years and provide rural New Zealand with the same crewing levels as urban areas - a move that will save more lives and make it safer for our crews.
''It will also give us the chance to promote from within and for a large number of our volunteer ambulance officers to become paid staff.''
While 375 of the roles would address single-crewing, the remaining roles would allow St John to cope with increased demand.
An additional 32 staff were destined for Otago and Southland.
''It will take time to gear up and implement, and the first step is reviewing each station across the country,'' Mr Bradley said.
''One size does not fit all and we'll be talking with local communities and our people on the ground to find the best approach in each area.''
It was the details of that plan that would determine its success, Dr Williamson said.
''I think that this move has been a move that's been in the pipeline already and I don't know if this will solve the problem for Alexandra or Cromwell,'' she said.
''It really depends on where they [additional staff] are placed.''
She backed the end of single-crewing as a positive move, but was concerned as to whether it meant more paramedics for areas such as Cromwell, which were undergoing significant population growth and were inundated with visitors during the holiday season.
''I thought it was good news what we heard today, but the devil will be in the detail,'' she said.
''The other aspect of this is four years is a long time and we are very interested in getting the December, January situation sorted out for this summer.''
Ambulance Professionals First spokeswoman Lynette Blacklaws said the Government was taking ''shortcuts'' and about 300 of the new positions would be emergency medical assistants.
''In metropolitan areas, ambulances are crewed with two qualified ambulance officers,'' she said.
''This means they can care for multiple patients at a single incident, they can consult with each other and they have the benefit of a second opinion when making critical medical decisions in crisis situations.
''We want to see that level of service right across the country, not just in the major population centres.
''But emergency medical assistants will receive just three weeks' training and won't have the authority to practise without supervision.''
YesWeCare.nz campaign co-ordinator Simon Oosterman said the Government was being dishonest by claiming people in rural areas would receive the same care as residents of cities.
''Unqualified assistants can't provide the necessary clinical care required in critical life-saving intervention and incidents with two or more patients, such as a high-speed vehicle accident or a complicated pregnancy,'' he said.
''The Government only needs to fund an extra $4.5 million to upgrade the 300 unqualified assistants to be qualified officers.''
A St John spokeswoman said St John would consult staff, communities and stakeholders to determine how the additional resources would be assigned.
More information would be released in the coming weeks, she said.
The Government said the policy would be funded by Vote Health ($31.2 million) and ACC ($28 million).
