Second time unlucky for chopper appeal

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust has been forced to cancel its annual charity auction due to uncertainties around Covid-19 restrictions.

The auction has been one of the chopper trust's major fundraisers each year since the first one, 14 years ago.

“Unfortunately, due to the uncertainty over New Zealand's Covid Levels and the possibility that we will not be at Level 1 by Friday, September 17, we will have to cancel the auction this year,” said trust chairman Patrick Willock.

“It's not a risk that the committee want to take.

“We thank everyone for all for their support, and while we are disappointed to have to make this decision we recognise that we must take our community into consideration.

“We look forward to seeing you all at the 2022 auction in September next year,” Mr Willock said.

The auction also had to be cancelled last year due to Covid restrictions.

In 2019 it raised around $90,000.

“This will be a major cut in income for us, especially when it compounds on the loss of last year's auction.

“We do have reserves to keep the rescue chopper flying, but the loss of now two annual auctions is eating into those reserves.”

As part of the rescue helicopter trust's contract with the Government it has to provide a community portion of the approximate $700,000 annual cost of keeping the helicopter and its crew operating.

“We are actively exploring alternative fundraising ventures,” Mr Willock said.