The rescue choppers at the Northland base in Whangarei.
The rescue choppers at the Northland base in Whangarei.
Northland Regional Council wants to cut its contribution to emergency services – and deputy chair Tui Shortland says the money can be better spent bolstering the civil defence capability of marae and community centres.
Axing the $1.1 million emergency services rate would affect the rescue helicopter service, Coastguard, St John,surf lifesaving, search and rescue, and Far North Radio and Sea Rescue.
NRC chairwoman Tui Shortland.
Shortland says while the rescue helicopter is an essential service in what’s the most rural region in the country, the council questions whether emergency services are a local government or central government responsibility.
“They’re consistently handing us, as regional and local government, increased mandates, an increased list of things that we need to deliver in the regions and the districts and they’re squeezing everybody,” Shortland told Waatea.News.Com
