The Wakatipu Health Trust had about $4000 left over when it announced its intention to disband in October 2011 after eight years in favour of the incoming Wakatipu Heath Reference Panel, chaired by Queenstown Lakes Mayor Vanessa van Uden.
Trust chief executive Maria Cole said: "We had a little bit of money and we wanted to ensure it went to a worthwhile community project."
Funds were given to St John Queenstown which purchased the heart-starting device for use on an exterior wall of the Arrowtown Post Office.
"It's very straightforward to use, even for the layperson, and we hope locating it in a central location it will be readily available to anyone who may need it," Mrs Cole said.
St John Queenstown operations team manager Alana Reid thanked trustees for their "very generous donation" and said the funds had been put to good use.
Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Brigade was equipped with a defibrillator, but the small battery-powered electrical impulse generator at the post office was the first available to the public around the clock.
Ms Reid said it was important the community knew where the defibrillator was located and people had the confidence to use it in an emergency, such as a cardiac arrest.
"You can't get it wrong," she said.
Mrs Cole said trustees were resigning and the shell of the trust would be handed to Ms van Uden as mayor.
The trust was still registered with the Charities Commission and could be used by the panel as a vehicle for fundraising, she said.
Shock tactics - defibrillators in the Wakatipu
• Central Queenstown
Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, Earl St.
Pacific Jemm cruise boat, O'Regans Wharf, Queenstown Bay.
Skyline Gondola restaurant.
Queenstown Library.
Queenstown Memorial Hall.
Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade.
• Fernhill
Aspen Tanoa Hotel.
• Frankton
Queenstown Events Centre.
Queenstown Airport (three).
New World Wakatipu, Remarkables Park Town Centre.
St John Wakatipu has a public-access defibrillator for hire.
Frankton Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Mobil Service Station.
• Kelvin Heights
Queenstown Golf Club.
• Arthur's Point
Shotover Canyon Swing.
• Arrowtown
Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Brigade.
Post Office.
• Private
Southern Safety Services Queenstown, private and on the road with staff.
Local Action Film Equipment Hire, private and on the road with staff.
Arrowtown Golf Course.
Kingston, at present with first response but will go on wall of cafe soon.
Queenstown Rafting (2).
Matakauri Lodge, Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd.
Blanket Bay, Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd.
Evolution Tours.
