Northland emergency services are urging the public to oppose a plan to scrap a rating scheme that funds life-saving resources.
The $1.1 million Emergency Services Rate funding pool supports organisations whose primary purpose is to save lives that are in immediate or critical danger — including Surf Life Saving Northern Region, Hato Hone St John, Far North Radio and Sea rescue services including Coastguard, Far North Search and Rescue and Northland Rescue Helicopter.
The Northland Regional Council was seeking public consultation on its proposal to stop the Emergency Services Fund will from June 30, 2024 in its draft Long Term Plan 2024-2034. The council has proposed the money would instead be used to soften the general rates increases.
Northland Rescue Helicopters chief executive Ian MacPherson told Breakfast that losing the crucial funding would have an impact on the capability that could be delivered to the residents, and visitors, of Northland.
"These aircraft are very different to how they used to be years ago, they're now an airborne intensive care unit".
He said the estimated $535,000 a year allocated to Northland Rescue Helicopters went towards maintenance expenses, alongside upgrading crucial life-saving and high-tech survival equipment.
"When we arrive on the scene, we arrive with critical care paramedic, or two of them, and we will be saving your life from the moment we turn up. And the whole time you're inside that helicopter. That's what this money goes towards," he said.
MacPherson said the community had been "strongly supportive" of the council-funded Emergency Services Rate which he said allowed residents to have some control.
"At the moment, because it's partially publicly funded, the people of Northland have a certain amount of control over the level of service, type of capability and where the bases are".
"People don't mind contributing to the cost of this organisation. It's only $11 per household for the year so it's not a great deal of money," he said.
NRC said the emergency services rate is about $11 per rate bill which makes up about 2.35%.
"In total, we contribute about $1.1m a year to emergency services – just under half of that goes to the rescue helicopters," it said.
Deputy chair Tui Shortland told NZ Herald the council recognised the importance of the emergency services, but that they are not core council business.
She highlighted caring for the environment, preparing for natural hazards and long-term effects of climate change as activities that were putting pressure on funding.
MacPherson said the council had highlighted its desire to "increase their capability for managing emergency services". He said emergency services were "intrinsically-linked" with this.
"We are part of that delivery, we do the mahi. There's no point in having improved management of emergency services if you don't have the services out there to deliver those capabilities," he said.
"I think this is just a sign of pressure coming on, but we think there's still time for people to vote and put their hand up to say, we're happy with this fund".
He urged people to vote and give feedback on the council's proposed Long Term Plan, which had a submission deadline of April 19.
Submissions could be emailed via submissions@nrc.govt.nz or visit www.nrc.govt.nz/futureplan
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