Skip to content
NZ Flying Doctor Service
  • Home
  • About us
    • About NZFD
    • NZFD Trust
    • Partners & Sponsors
    • History
    • Our Crew
  • ways to help
  • Our Impact
    • Patient Stories
    • News
  • Contact
Donate now
Donate now
Plane Launch

Latest News

Untouched World Charity Tee
Untouched World Charity Tee
A tee with a purpose!

These 100% organic cotton tees feature a design by 5-year-old, Rita, who received life-saving services from the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service.

Head over to Untouched World to buy yours for $79.

   

Follow us
Instagram
From remote runways to life-saving care, the NZ Fl From remote runways to life-saving care, the NZ Flying Doctor Service is delivering impact that truly counts.
Helping patients return home is one of the most me Helping patients return home is one of the most meaningful parts of the NZ Flying Doctor Service’s mission.

For Rachael, who lives in Koromiko near Picton, she never imagined she'd end up at Wellington Hospital having brain surgery.

She initially thought her pain was just a headache, but when it didn't go away a CT scan was ordered, revealing a substantial aneurysm in her brain.

After her surgery, Rachael was anxious to get home. The New Zealand Flying Doctor Service got her there.

“𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗭𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴.”

Read Rachael's story here:https://www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz/stories/from-headache-to-hospital/

Or see our Patient Stories link on our Linktree
A bittersweet Crew Friday as we’re farewelling New A bittersweet Crew Friday as we’re farewelling New Zealand Flying Doctor pilot Rachel - but we’re happy she’s a step closer to her goal of flying with her big sister!

Based in Nelson, Rachel has transported hundreds of patients over the three and a half years she’s spent flying for the NZ Flying Doctor Service.

“It’s been such a privilege. I’ve been flying, which I love, and helping people at the same time,” Rachel says.

What will she miss the most? The crew.

“𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗭 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀. 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁.”

Most memorable day at work?

“We were landing in Christchurch one day when a light aircraft that had just taken off declared an emergency. The pilot thought the person next to him was having a heart attack. The nurse in the back of our plane offered to assist.

“We both landed, and when the nurse went to help, he realised the person was actually having a seizure. He assisted until the ambulance arrived. It was pretty cool – we were coming to pick up a patient, but we got to help someone else along the way.”

Rachel is looking forward to her next challenge: flying the Dash 8-Q300 for Air New Zealand.

“My sister is a pilot on the Air NZ 787, and my dream is to fly with her one day. I’m excited to be taking a step closer to achieving that goal.”

@airnz — you’ve got a good one here. We can’t wait to see Rachel and her sister in the cockpit together one day!

We wish you all the best, Rachel.
And the winner is .... 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗮! Crews from the New And the winner is ....

𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗮!

Crews from the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter loved seeing these beautiful colourings and lovely comments for the crew. They simply couldn't choose just one winner, so the crews selected two finalists each - and from there we randomly selected the main prize winner.

The four finalists are:

🚁Siwoo, age 10
🚁Nina, age 3
✈️Francine, age 6
✈️Olivia, age 4

Thank you to all those who attended the GCH Aviation Open Day and generously supported the work of the NZ Flying Doctor Trust and the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.

@cantwestpacrescuehelicopter 
@gchaviation
Two NZ Flying Doctor flights and a Westpac Rescue Two NZ Flying Doctor flights and a Westpac Rescue Helicopter ride - these little girls have had a tough start to life.

Lilly and Penny Eades were born prematurely in Dunedin Hospital. Mum Sarah was flown there by the NZ Flying Doctor Service as there was no room in Christchurch's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The family eventually got back to Christchurch - with twin Lilly flown on the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and sister Penny on the NZ Flying Doctor Service two weeks later.

“𝗜𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗺𝗽𝘆 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹.”

We're delighted our sister service the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, supported by the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust, brought Lilly home and that we could reunite her with her sister a few weeks later.

Critical care in the air, 24/7.

Sarah shares her story here: https://www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz/stories/three-flights-two-services-and-a-family-reunited/
An enormous thank you to the Waimea Plains Retirem An enormous thank you to the Waimea Plains Retirement Village in Nelson for organising a fundraising evening for the NZ Flying Doctor Service.

It was a very successful evening for all involved, with a generous donation coming to the Trust as a result.

The NZ Flying Doctor Service transferred 1402 patients in 2025 with 811 of those flights using the Service's Nelson-based plane.

It's support like this that helps us keep this 24/7 mobile intensive care unit flying. Thank you.
Arthur’s job is unpredictable. Urgent calls can Arthur’s job is unpredictable. 

Urgent calls can come through at any minute, and a mission can last anywhere from three to six hours. 

“We spend a lot of time on the phone with Health New Zealand, talking about what specialist support the patient will need and arranging to have that support on hand.”

Arthur Ruddenklau is Operations Manager and Senior Pilot at the NZ Flying Doctor Service.

It's a complex job, made more complex by the Service's 24-hour nature - particularly when it comes to regional airports.

“You need to know the right people to call to turn on the runway lights and let ambulances through the gates at night."

Arthur has been flying for 34 years and at the helm of the NZ Flying Doctor Service for 16 years. His favourite part of the job is the homecomings.

“𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻. 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲.”

Read more about Arthur and the NZ Flying Doctor Service here: https://www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz/our-crew/
We're loving seeing the colouring competition entr We're loving seeing the colouring competition entries coming in from the open day. We've decided to decorate one of the windows in the Flying Doctor offices, thank you Shane! 

The effort that's been put into these is fantastic. Thank you. 

If you picked up a picture and you'd like to send it in to enter the competition, just photograph it and send it to digital@nzflyingdoctors.co.nz. 

You have until May 1 to enter.
It might be 12 years ago, but Sheryn still gets em It might be 12 years ago, but Sheryn still gets emotional thinking about the day her son Ryan was on the NZ Flying Doctor Service plane.

The Nelson teen was struck with a rare infection. He urgently needed specialist care ... what Sheryn didn't know at the time was that doctors were concerned he wouldn't survive the flight.

Sheryn believes the NZ Flying Doctor Service saved her son's life.

"𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗪𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.”

Thank you Sheryn and Ryan for sharing your story and thank you Rānui House for being Sheryn's "home away from home". It's at a person’s greatest moment of need, the strength of community and charity standing together truly shines.

Read Sheryn and Ryan's story here: https://www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz/stories/a-life-saving-flight-never-forgotten/

@ranuihouse
The difference the NZ Flying Doctor Service makes The difference the NZ Flying Doctor Service makes - thanks to your support.
𝗔 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 It was 29 December 2025 when 𝗔 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

It was 29 December 2025 when the call came. A gastroenterology patient required urgent treatment at Christchurch Hospital. Pilots Arthur and Scott and Flight Nurse Abby were on their way to the West Coast.

The NZ Flying Doctor Service team frequently crosses the main divide, providing West Coast communities with a vital link to critical health services. During 2025, more than 250 patients were transported from the West Coast.

Our most heartfelt thanks to ROA Mining, principal sponsor of the NZ Flying Doctor planes in Christchurch. Your continued support of the Service demonstrates your commitment to the health of the West Coast community.
Peter's family didn't know he was leaving a gift i Peter's family didn't know he was leaving a gift in his will to the NZ Flying Doctor Trust, but they were not surprised.

Peter's sister Allison says the service had given him such comfort. He was too unwell to fly between Nelson and Christchurch commercially and he hated the thought of being "bounced around" on the road.

We are incredibly humbled that Peter chose to leave a gift in his will to the NZ Flying Doctor Trust and we would like to thank Peter's family for sharing his story with us.

 “𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗭 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀.”
𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻

Read about Peter and his legacy here: https://www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz/stories/a-gift-in-recognition-of-a-seamless-service/
The people we help are at the very heart of the NZ The people we help are at the very heart of the NZ Flying Doctor Service - it's why we're here.

If you've used the NZ Flying Doctor Service, we would love to hear from you. Your story could help us highlight the amazing work of the air ambulance service and its importance to our community.

Send us a message or contact us through our website: https://www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz/contact/
When RSV started circulating, Lyndal Watson was wo When RSV started circulating, Lyndal Watson was worried. She knew if her seven-month-old baby Blaire got it, she could get very sick, very fast.

When her worst fears were realised, she was so grateful the NZ Flying Doctor Service was there. 

“𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗭 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗰𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲."

Read about Blaire's two "magical" NZ Flying Doctor flights here: https://www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz/stories/two-flights-in-six-days-for-baby-blaire/
It's official - demand for the NZ Flying Doctor Se It's official - demand for the NZ Flying Doctor Service has never been higher. See the numbers for yourself in our 2025 Impact Report.

Also in this report we:
🔵Celebrate 30 years of flight
🔵Showcase a mission in action
🔵Meet some of the people who make it possible
🔵Share the story of a little girl's magical first flights

Read our Impact Report here: https://www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz/news_articles/2025-full-year-impact-report/
Normally the Trust team prefers to stay behind the Normally the Trust team prefers to stay behind the scenes, but this beautiful kit from @deaneapparelnz  got them in front of the camera!

An enormous thank you to Deane Apparel for providing branded shirts and jackets for the team at the New Zealand Flying Doctor Trust.

Whether we're attending events, hosting events, or showing guests around the GCH Aviation Air Rescue Base, we'll wear this gear with pride.
We are thrilled to announce that 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻 We are thrilled to announce that 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 are a 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿 at this year's flagship fundraiser for the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service, the 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮. 

When you invest with Milford, you’re also supporting the local community. They are thrilled to partner with a charity that enriches the community, which is why the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service is a perfect fit. 

The Service truly appreciates the partnership with Milford Asset Management and their generosity in support of this event, which is raising vital funds for this essential service.
Mark's been dreaming about planes since he was abo Mark's been dreaming about planes since he was about five years old.

He loves his job as a pilot with the NZ Flying Doctor Service. His favourite destination? The West Coast, where he says they always get such a warm welcome.

"𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆," 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀.

Read more about Mark here: https://www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz/news_articles/introducing-mark-nz-flying-doctor-service-pilot/
We extend our heartfelt thanks to 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗢𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗼 We extend our heartfelt thanks to 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗢𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗮𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 for their unwavering support of the 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙂𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙮, to be held on March 21st.

As a 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿 for three consecutive years, Canterbury Orthopaedic Services has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to this event and to the community we serve. Their incredible generosity helps ensure the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service can continue to provide patients with the very best possible aeromedical care. It is a wonderful example of a local business stepping up to support a vital community service.

Thank you, Canterbury Orthopaedic Services, for your continued commitment to making a meaningful difference.
We've been busy... and we couldn't do it without We've been busy...

and we couldn't do it without your help.

Donate today.

www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz
NZ Flying Doctor Service
Contact Us
  • PO Box 20262
    Bishopdale
    Christchurch 8543
    New Zealand

  • P: 03 662 9698
  • E: info@nzflyingdoctors.co.nz
  • Registered Charity CC55282
EXPLORE
  • About
  • Ways to Donate
  • Our Impact
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
Connect with us
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Newsletter
Name *
Name

© NZ Flying Doctor Service 2026