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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.

   

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John is a pilot for the NZ Flying Doctor Service i John is a pilot for the NZ Flying Doctor Service in Nelson. He says every day at work is a memorable one.

Meet John and find out what makes his job "way more fun". 

See the Latest News link on our Linktree
Billie Moore’s first NZ Flying Doctor flight came Billie Moore’s first NZ Flying Doctor flight came after her waters broke when she was 31 weeks pregnant. Despite her fear of flying, she crossed the Alps and welcomed son Ridge a week later.
 
A year on, the service helped bring two-week-old daughter Sadie home to Blackball.
 
Just a week later, Ridge became critically unwell and needed to get to Christchurch Hospital urgently. Billie recalls that next flight was the hardest of all.
 
“𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘆 𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁. 𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱.”
 
For Billie, the NZ Flying Doctor plane is far more than transport, it’s a lifeline.
 
Read Billie's story at the Patient Stories link on our Linktree
Our Impact: 1 January - 30 June 2026 Keeping what Our Impact: 1 January - 30 June 2026

Keeping what is essentially three flying ICU units in the air is not easy. It takes a committed, passionate team and the generosity of a community. This is the difference that together, we have made.
Have you been thinking about writing a will? Getti Have you been thinking about writing a will? Getting started can be the hardest part.

Our Fundraising Director Kathryn Marshall recently had a chance conversation which made her realise it isn't the big questions that leave people overwhelmed about writing a will - it's how to start the process of answering them.

So, Kathryn has penned this article, which she hopes can help start one of life's most important conversations. To read her article see link in bio.

#WillsWeek #PublicTrustWillsWeek
Our impact in numbers - and it's all thanks to you Our impact in numbers - and it's all thanks to your support.

Find out more about the life-saving difference the NZ Flying Doctor Service makes.

See link in bio
Ellie's dream of flying for the NZ Flying Doctor S Ellie's dream of flying for the NZ Flying Doctor Service has come true.

But is the job all she imagined? The answer is simple. Yes.

"𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝘆𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀."

Read about Ellie here: https://loom.ly/ymIzuc0

Or see Latest News on our LinkTree
Rob was on a West Coast golf course one day, and o Rob was on a West Coast golf course one day, and on a NZ Flying Doctor plane the next.

You never know when life will take an unexpected turn. 

Community stalwarts Rob and Ailsa had no idea Rob needed urgent surgery. They're just thankful the NZ Flying Doctor Service got him to the specialist care he needed.

“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗭 𝗙𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.”

Read Rob's story and support this life-saving service.

Copy this link or click the Patient Stories link on our LinkTree

https://loom.ly/QB_nNxc
We're delighted to introduce to you our new CEO - We're delighted to introduce to you our new CEO - Anton Drazevic.

Anton brings to the NZ Flying Doctor Trust more than 20 years' experience in leadership, operations, and community impact. Most recently he's been the CEO of the Nelson Environment Centre, returning home to Christchurch to take the helm at the Trust. 

And while he's only had his feet under the desk for a few days, he knows the future is exciting.
 
“𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗜. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝗽 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱-𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲.”

Welcome to the team Anton!

Read more about Anton at the Latest News link on our LinkTree
The lights of Christchurch as the NZ Flying Doctor The lights of Christchurch as the NZ Flying Doctor plane returns home.

Critical care in the air, 24/7.

www.nzflyingdoctors.co.nz
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.
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