Life Flight Trust Awards

Ladies and Gentlemen I greet you in the languages of the realm ofNew Zealand- English, Maori,CookIsland,Niueand Tokelau.

 Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni

More specifically I greet you as our host: Hon Annette King, Member for Rongotai; Life Flight Trust Chairman, Bill Day and Board Members; Christine Parker of Westpac; Kapiti District Mayor, Alan Milne; Wellington City Councillor Morrison, Wellington City Council Chief Executive, Garry Poole; Life Flight Staff; Distinguished Guests; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for the invitation to Susan and I to Parliament tonight to recognise the work of the Life Flight Trust.

As Governor-General I am thrilled to be continuing the tradition established by my predecessor, Sir Paul Reeves, by becoming Patron to this organisation.

The Governor-General's association with Life Flight Trust has a bitter-sweet genesis, with Life Flight founder Peter Button receiving the Queen's Medal from Sir Paul Reeves just weeks before he was killed during the pursuit of an escaped prisoner.

It was a terrible tragedy and a great loss for the Life Flight Trust. But it did not stop the Trust from continuing its mission to save lives.

Since 1982 you have been saving the lives of many thousands of New Zealanders. You have come to hold a place in many of our hearts as an organisation we can rely on and trust in times of emergency.

As a result, the Trust has grown significantly over the years. Just last year, my predecessor Dame Silvia Cartwright launched the Auckland Life Flight Air Ambulance base operation.

This fixed wing air ambulance service, both inAucklandandWellington, allows you to transport many more injured and sick patients around the country. It means that now even more New Zealanders are putting their faith in Life Flight Trust.

The growth of this Trust from a local regional service to one that covers much more of our country is significant - not only for the Trust, but for New Zealanders who find themselves in trouble.

As a result, your services are more in demand than ever. I am advised that last year Life Flight NewZealandperformed 964 missions.

This figure begs the question - what would we do without you?

Just reading through the media releases on your website shows in practice how valuable your services are. If I might quote some of the headlines:

Injured fisherman winched off trawler

Scuba diver rescued after 150 foot dive goes wrong

Injured woman rescued off Tararua Ranges

Westpac Rescue Helicopter rescues kayaker in gale force winds

Horseriding accident victim winched to safety

I could go on.

Despite the dramatic personal circumstances which lead to these rescues, they do provide good reading. That is because they are real life stories of tragedies most often thwarted.

Thanks to your good work.

I must now profess a real enthusiasm for helicopters - which is lucky considering Susan and I are proud neighbours to the Life Flight Trust.

Just recently I enjoyed a flight.

Of course, most of your passengers are not there to enjoy the views. Far from it, they are there because of an emergency.

However, I can certainly understand how you have a passion for flight - and for the chance it offers to save lives.

I am proud to be Patron for the Life Flight Trust. And I look forward to seeing the Trust grow so it can meet the needs of many more New Zealanders in the years to come.

No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora koutou katoa