An agreement in principle for air ambulance services in the Northern Region was agreed yesterday, Health minister David Clark said.
The Ministry of Health and ACC are in the final stages of agreeing a three-year contract with an agency combining the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and the Northland Emergency Services Trust. Both trusts already provide services in the area.
Mr Clark said the new northern region service was expected to begin later this year or early next year. Current contracts would be rolled over until the new contract formally began.
The service would continue to use existing bases in Auckland and Whangarei as well as maintain the existing air ambulance service provided in Whitianga.
A separate contract covering the central region (the remainder of the North Island, south of the Counties Manukau DHB) was expected to be announced shortly.
An announcement for the southern region - the South Island - would follow within the next month.
