Greenlea Rescue Helicopter open day

The 2017 Greenlea Rescue Helicopter Open Day is on Sunday. Photo/Supplied

The 2017 Greenlea Rescue Helicopter Open Day is on Sunday allowing members of the community to take a seat in the cockpit and get up close to the hardworking crew.

The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter team will be joined by members of the police, fire service, St John for a day of interactive and informative entertainment from 10am - 2pm at the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter Hangar at the Taupo Airport.

With annual operational costs of $1.1m, this is an important day for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter as it allows the crew to give back to the generous community who provide financial support to keep this life-saving service in the air.

Part of this funding comes via Friends of the Rescue Helicopter - individuals and families who support the service via an annual donation so the open day has something for the whole family.

The rescue helicopter responds to motor vehicle and motorbike accidents, forestry and farming accidents, hunting, tramping, and recreational activities, industrial sites, and search and rescue operations for those lost in the bush, mountains and out at sea.

In 2016 alone, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter carried out 218 potentially life-saving missions compared to 191 in 2015.

For more information about the open day or donating visit www.rescue.org.nz