It's noisy at Whangarei Hospital when the rescue helicopter comes in to land - but nothing like the heavy rumble of 160 motorcycles rolling up the public ramp and around the carpark on Saturday.
It was the 20th anniversary of the Hikurangi Riders' traditional Toy Run to the hospital, beefed up this year by White Ribbon Day bikers who came from as far south as Dunedin to participate.
Some ward 2 youngsters heard them arrive and came to the hospital entrance, where the motorcyclists filled a baby's cot with more than 80 toys which will be given to children in hospital over Christmas.
The motorcyclists had assembled at Bream Bay on Friday for the annual White Ribbon show of support for the battle to end violence against women. On Saturday, led by Whangarei White Ribbon Day organiser Phil Paikea, they made their run to the hospital, where they were joined by John McGrath, whose sister Patricia died after being assaulted by her partner in January.
Mr McGrath and his wife Kate's family were attending a tangi for kaumatua Te Ramaroa Tito at Korokota Marae at Titoki on Saturday, but they supported the couple instead going to the White Ribbon event in honour of Patricia.
From the hospital, the motorcyclists travelled to Otangarei where they presented two kowhai trees to the local marae in memory of people who had died there through domestic violence. They then went to the Whangarei Town Basin, where they heard about the making of Enough is Enough, a documentary on the death of Patricia McGrath.