Both of Taranaki's community rescue helicopter pilots have quit, while a lack of funds for the trust that runs it threatens its future.
The trust needs $400,000 by Christmas to avoid having to close by the end of the year.
Chairman Mark Masters told Radio New Zealand it was not a good situation, but they were working on it.
He said one of the pilots had been offered a better paying job in the Australian mining industry and the other announced his resignation once the trust's financial position was announced.