Pictured above: Northland Rescue Team: Fransje, Dan, Sara and Emily with FarmShop personnel.

We’re a leading factory-to-farm business in Northland, well-known for supplying agricultural machinery and farm essentials… But we are also a philanthropic bunch!

Earlier this year, our team rallied together to select a cause to support in 2024. Northland Rescue Helicopter stood out as a top choice due to the life-saving role they play in the region. We acknowledge that farm life is rewarding but comes with risks and knowing there’s a service like Northland Rescue Helicopter ready at a moment’s notice is a great comfort.

The dedication of Northland Rescue Helicopter’s paramedics and pilots could be a lifeline for any of our families or friends. Generosity is a core value here, and we give back to causes that really matter every year. It doesn’t take long to scan the true stories tab on their website to see just how many rural residents have relied on their incredible service.

As a team we collected individual donations, and in the true act of giving, the boss matched every contribution, bringing the final total to a substantial $10,000!

With approximately 1,200 rescues a year, Northland Rescue Helicopter is a 24/7 operation and we saw this firsthand during our cheque handover. While at their base in Kensington, the Northland Rescue team were called out to an emergency in the Bay of Islands. 

When asked how corporate support specifically helps the work at Northland Rescue Helicopter, the feedback was humbling. Funds will be put towards the purchasing of three mechanical ventilators which are a vital piece of equipment used to provide breathing support to critically unwell patients. The purchase of these ventilators will cost approximately $200K.

Jan Hewitt is the Marketing and Fundraising Manager at Northland Rescue Helicopter and she explains how community and corporate support makes a critical difference in their mission. “While we receive 85% of our operational funding through central government, we need to find the other 15%, along with the replacement of much needed equipment through the community and corporate support we receive.  We want to thank FarmShop, who have played a crucial role in that support.”

Supporting Northland Rescue Helicopter is more than a donation; it's our way of helping protect the lives and livelihoods that make Northland farms thrive. 

Northland Rescue Helicopter’s annual appeal is on right now (November). Let us know if you’d like to support, or visit: www.nest.org.nz