Award two days before rescuer's job cut

The manager of Taranaki's rescue helicopter service will today receive an award for a search and rescue operation, two days before he is made redundant.

Noel Watson's position is being "disestablished" with duties to be shared amongst remaining staff, helicopter trust chairman Mark Masters told the Taranaki Daily News.

Mr Watson, who has worked with the service for 18 years, will be in Parliament today to receive the Search and Rescue Council's gold award for the rescue of a fisherman stranded the bottom of a cliff in February last year - an honour he says marks the "pinnacle" of his career.

His last day in the job will be Friday.

- NZPA