Orange Sky & Alsco Uniforms : A Fresh Start for Māngere Families

Sometimes, it’s the simple things — like clean clothes — that can make a world of difference. That’s the mission behind Orange Sky, a not-for-profit organisation offering free mobile laundry and shower services to people doing it tough. And now, thanks to a powerful partnership with Alsco, this mission is reaching even more families in need, right in the heart of Māngere.

A Load Off – literally and figuratively

For many families in the Māngere community, accessing a washing machine isn’t always an option. With rising living costs and housing challenges, keeping up with everyday essentials like laundry can become a real burden. Orange Sky’s mobile laundry van offers a game-changing service — free washing, drying, and a safe space for conversation. 

One first-time user, highlighted in a recent RNZ article, said the service felt like a “huge weight lifted.” Not only were they grateful for the clean clothes, but also for the kindness and dignity the Orange Sky volunteers bring with them.

How Alsco Uniforms Helps Power the Mission

As a long-standing leader in workplace hygiene and linen rental services, Alsco Uniforms brings more than just equipment to the partnership. They support Orange Sky with logistical help, industrial supplies, and behind-the-scenes resources that help keep the laundry vans running smoothly. 

Together, Orange Sky and Alsco Uniforms are making it easier for families to focus on what really matters — their health, their kids, and their futures — without worrying about something as basic (yet essential) as clean clothes.

More Than Just a Wash

Orange Sky is about more than laundry — it’s about connection. Each mobile van is staffed by volunteers who lend a friendly ear and open heart. For many users, the chance to talk while their clothes are being washed is just as valuable as the service itself

By combining social impact with everyday support, Orange Sky and Alsco Uniforms are proving that compassion, community, and clean clothes go hand in hand.

Get Involved

Whether it’s through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, there are plenty of ways to support the incredible work Orange Sky and Alsco Uniforms are doing across New Zealand.

To learn more, visit:

🔗 orangesky.org.nz

Further reading/media:

• https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/557752/free-laundry-service-by-orange-sky-a-load-off-for-mangere-families-first-time-user-says 
• https://pmn.co.nz/read/news/free-laundry-service-by-orange-sky-a-load-off-for-mangere-families-says-first-time-user 
• https://voxy.co.nz/national/orange-sky-launches-permanent-south-auckland-laundry-service-to-meet-growing-need/21498/
• https://waateanews.com/2025/04/04/kat-doughty-orange-sky-senior-impact-manager-3/

Alsco Uniforms Donates Van to Medical Aid Abroad

Alsco Uniforms is proud to announce that we’ve just donated another van to Medical Aid Abroad (MAA). This contribution will help deliver essential medical supplies to underserved communities and developing countries.

MAA is a charitable trust that we greatly admire for donating valuable, unused medical goods to developing countries, especially in the Pacific Islands. Every year, about 2,000 cartons of goods that would otherwise end up in landfills are sent to medical centres, doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies overseas.

This ensures that these critical supplies reach those in need rather than going to waste.

Since 2016, Alsco Uniforms has been an avid supporter of MAA, covering vehicle expenses, including registration, WoF, fuel, and maintenance costs. In 2019, we elevated our support by donating a van to replace their ageing vehicle.

This week, we’ve taken another significant step forward by providing a bigger and better van from our Nelson branch. The keys were handed over by Monique Welsh, our General Manager for New Zealand & Asia, to Murray Kerr – Chairman, and Kim Kempthorne – Stores Manager.

But we couldn’t have accomplished this without the help of several dedicated individuals and teams. We’d love to acknowledge the following people for their contributions in bringing this donation to life:

❤️ Richard and the team from Alsco Uniforms Nelson – for the donation of the vehicle itself.

❤️ Shane from Wide Glide Panel Beaters, Kingsland– for giving the van a bit of a facelift.

❤️ Glenn, Rod, and the team at Brave Design, Henderson – for designing and applying the new livery at no cost.

Additionally, a special thank you to Darrell Alvey from Auckland Fresh & Clean for helping us deliver the blank van to Brave Design, where the owners Glenn and Rod received it and worked their magic.

The new livery, generously designed and applied by Brave Design, has given the van a fresh and professional look. This enhancement not only improves the vehicle’s appearance but also helps raise awareness of MAA’s vital mission as it travels on the road.

From next week, you may see this new van on the road, diligently picking up and delivering essential supplies to where they are needed most. Keep an eye out for it, and join us in celebrating the incredible work that MAA does every day to support healthcare in developing countries.

Next Level Repurposing

Alsco has been a long-time supporter of a NZ charity, Medical Aid Abroad (MAA). for the last couple of years we have been providing support for the MAA vehicle costs by supplying Rego, WoF, fuel and maintenance costs.

We have just gone to the next level.  Check the video.

Alsco really does like helping out, we have outfitted the new MAA premises with washroom dispensers, and have kept them supplied with products. We helped them move into the new building by providing a truck and volunteer manpower.

Alsco has also supported their last four fundraising dinners by paying for a table of eight. It all helps such a worthy cause.

But its really about our expired or obsolete stock, we don’t want it to go to waste when it is so useful in developing countries.

Murray explains who MAA are…

Auckland City Mission Cook-Off 2022

Alsco is actively involved in the Auckland City Mission Cook-Off again. The event was delayed from 2021 due to the Auckland lock-down, but pleasingly was rescheduled to June 2022.

The amazing work of the City Mission inspires us, it’s part of our community engagement, and we wish to support them by raising awareness and heaps of money. I was lucky enough to represent Alsco and be part of the Cook-Off this year – the fourth person from our business to take part. The Cook-Off brings together business leaders and top chefs to give back to our community through a special evening of good food and good company. On 9th June we all put our culinary skills to the test by cooking a three-course meal for 200 City Mission guests, under the expert guidance of some of Auckland’s top chefs. We were tasked with not only cooking a delicious, nutritious meals for people who otherwise couldn’t afford it, but raising $10,000 each for the Mission’s work to support Auckland’s most vulnerable people.

This year the work is more important than ever. Because of Covid, many more Aucklanders have been turning to the Mission for support through this time of crisis. One in five Auckland families are now struggling to put food on the table and demand for the Mission’s emergency food parcels has more than doubled to over 1000 food parcels every week.

The event was again staged at the magnificent St Matthews-in-the-City Church, which has been the Auckland home for the City Mission for over 100 years. We all looked the part, kitted out by Deane Apparel in the latest Cutting Edge chef wear. We had some wonderful feedback about the meal from the guests, who really felt like VIPs at the event.

The event was a huge success, raising more than $240,000 to support the Mission’s work for Auckland’s most vulnerable people. All this money will help provide emergency food parcels for people who would otherwise go hungry at this difficult time.

“It was a real privilege to be there, and be part of such a humbling experience”

Alsco raised just over $46,000; with our company donating $15,000, fantastic supplier support at $25,000, and amazing contributions from Alsco staff, friends and family. Thank you to everyone for the support, it is hugely appreciated. Every little bit counts.

Robbie Turnbull
Regional General Manager

Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

Helping out in the Hokianga

Will Noa is the Alsco Account Manager looking after all of Northland.  He is a local, based in Whangarei, loves his community, and has been inspired by the Alsco Ambassadorial Gifting Program.  Will spotted an opportunity to help Marae by donating much needed First Aid supplies for his North Hokianga Whanau.

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Unsure of how to go about organising this, Will enlisted the help of his Aunty, Pat Dargaville, who works for Hauora Hokianga, based in Rawene Hospital. In Will’s words “Aunty Pat has contacts with many Marae across Hokianga so was the perfect person to help me organise deliveries, and get me in touch with those that could meet me on the day”. He also worked closely with Alsco’s own Aunty Pat, Alsco Ambassador Pat Munro, to nail down the best supplies to put in the First Aid packs for the Marae.

Not everything goes to plan though. The Alsco van Will intended to use on the designated delivery day developed turbo issues. No problems, Will rearranged his plans in order to distribute the donated supplies in his Alsco hatchback, as well as drop a linen order into Kaikohe on his way up north. As the boxes and linen would not fit in his little car, he repacked everything into our synonymous Alsco laundry bags for the Marae handovers.

Will reports that all recipients were blown away with Alsco’s kindness and generosity. There was a real need for First Aid supplies as most Marae had little to none on hand. And what a day it was for Will, check out how busy he was, and who he caught up with;

• Ngati Manawa Marae – Pangaru, Buster Peita

• Waipuna Marae – Pangaru, Fred Dargaville

• Waihou Marae – Aleesha Ngaropo

• Waiparera Marae – Rangi Point, John Smart

• Matihetihe Marae – Chris Dixon

• Motuti Marae – Emma Davis

• Tauteihiihi Marae – KohuKohu, Devan Harris

• Pikiparia Marae – Kohukohu, Tup Harris

• Motukaraka Marae – Midge Hoani Toia

• Pa te Aroha Marae – Te Karae – Pat Dargaville

• Waima Marae – Derek Toia

• Taheke Marae – Angel Harris

• Horeke Marae – Lloyd Latimer

Pawarenga kits couldn’t be delivered due to Tangihana so these were left with his Aunty Pat to drop off on the following weekend;

• Morehu Marae – Pawarenga

• Ohaki Marae – Pawarenga

• Taiao Marae – Pawarenga

And he didn’t stop there, Will has also organised small First Aid kits for;

• Hokianga Women’s Rugby Team

• Hokianga Black Ferns Kotiro

• Hokianga Iron Maori Teams

Will reports “Nga mihi tino nui kia koutou” from all Marae and sports teams that received supplies.

Good stuff Will, you are our local legend. It is one of the pillars of Alsco to be an active supporter of our local communities, helping a wide range of not-for-profit, charitable, and sporting organisations and initiatives. We are proud of people like you that make it happen.

Thank you.

Alsco NZ and Wellington City Council join the NZ Textile Reuse Programme

Alsco is pleased to be part of the NZ Textile Reuse Programme. Following is a press release for distribution.

The NZ Textile Reuse Programme is delighted to welcome new partners ALSCO NZ and Wellington City Council to the programme.

Stage Two of the Program was initiated with continued collaboration from Fonterra and the new partners as we progress with work on solutions for end of life textiles.

Textile specialists The Formary have led the project from inception with the view that it needs to be a collaborative project, inviting prominent New Zealand brands on board to create a step-change in how end-of-life clothing is managed.

Clothing and textiles is a large and growing sector, it is estimated that 80 billion pieces of clothing are produced each year (a 400% jump from just 20 years ago), three-quarters of which will end up landfilled or incinerated.

According to the NZ Retailers Association, New Zealanders are now spending nearly $4 billion on clothing each year, this figure does not include the volume of corporate textiles, estimated to be 40 times greater than that of domestic textiles.

Stage One of the program, completed in 2016, involved an audit of the waste textiles being generated by the participating companies to determine the scale of the problem.

Local reprocessing solutions were assessed and a reprocessing model designed with the aim of producing environmental, social and financial benefits for all New Zealanders.

Bags of laundry queued for washing at Alsco NZ, Auckland

Auckland Council has provided funding for Stage Two – the establishment of a pilot aggregation centre to receive, sort and redistribute the end-of-life garments diverting them from landfill and converting them into fee stock for the industry.

“If we can divert our clothing and textile waster, which is significant, from landfill and convert it into useable feedstock for industry, we not only reduce the draw on virgin resources but also reduce the environmental impacts of textiles,” says Peter Thompson, The Formary CEO.

“Synthetics can take hundreds of years to break down in landfill, while clothing dyes and finishes create another issue – it is these sort of legacy issues that the programme partners are highly cognisant of and aiming to address through the programme”.

Mark Roberts, Alsco NZ Group General Manager, explains more: “Alsco has been helping to create clean, healthy workplaces in New Zealand since 1910. As a major user of workwear, we have a particular responsibility in reducing the number of textiles that end up as land-fill.

As Alsco we want to do whatever we can to help. We have comprehensive environmental and sustainability policies in place and we are always looking at new ways to minimise our impact on the environment.

Alsco sees our support of the NZ Textile Reuse Programme initiative as a tangible and collective action to make a real social, environmental and economic difference.

“We recognise that textile waste is a growing problem in NZ,” says Kellie Benner, WCC’s Waste Minimisation Manager “with the amount of textile waste being sent to landfill growing each year.

WCC is excited to start leading by example, through analysing and diverting from landfill our own uniforms, once they’ve reached their end of life.

This work fits nicely into our new Waste Minimisation and Management Plan, which includes actions towards minimising textile waste, and WCC’s internal waste minimisation”.

Media Contact
Bernadette Casey

Connecting With Our Local Community: Alsco Supports ARHT

Serving customers, returning a profit and giving back to shareholders used to be enough in old-school business management.

Not anymore! Modern up-and-coming businesses are shifting the focus on leaving a legacy.

What this means is that businesses are reevaluating the overarching strategies for the benefit of the community at large.

The impact of day-to-day business operations on the environment and the community is a trending topic among New Zealand modern businesses. Not only because these trends are up to the minute.

But because this is how you build a sustainable business in the contemporary world.

It’s about leaving the world a better place. Yet, supporting your local community also makes good business sense. Leaving one’s stamp in the community sphere is becoming increasingly important to today’s customers. Companies are under the magnifying glass of massive global and local audiences.

Sustaining our business is what we do, but what gives us a sense of purpose is sustaining human life. Today we’re looking at what Alsco does to do just that.

Alsco Backing Community Projects and Initiatives

Alsco fosters its company core values by putting them into practice. We’re a proud supporter of Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) and are a part of the mission sponsorship for more a decade already.

We take pride in supporting many other local community initiatives and organisations, too. Being committed to making things better for everyone, we’re actively involved in helping the community – New Zealand and overseas.

Back in the day, 50 years ago, when Alsco was starting out in New Zealand, the community played the key role in making Alsco what it is today. This is the way we like to give back. Here are some of our community engagement and charity activities so far:

• Annual support of the ASB Classic tennis tournament
• Fundraising for the Auckland City Mission Cook-Off charity event, tending to the homeless and less privileged
• Gifting products of no commercial use to Medical Aid Abroad, City Mission, Shine and SPCA through Alsco’s First Aid Products Repurposing Program
• Passing along used bed linen and blankets to the needy
• Donating supplies to New Zealand organisations, such as St John Ambulance Cadets, New Rising Foundation and Elevate Christian Disability Trust

ARHT’s Mission

The Auckland based Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s mission is not to let anyone in the Auckland community end up stranded. It provides a well-qualified, efficient aeromedical service.

A powerful sense of mission underpins everything these guys do. And they cover a wide range of activities. From providing emergency air ambulance and accident casualty transport to rescue searches and airlifts.

The crew line-up consists of experienced pilots, paramedics and crewmen. These guys are watching over Aucklanders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

A large number of successful interventions makes being a part of ARHT’s mission a delight for its supporters.

ARHT’s Amazing Lifesaving Stories

ARHT keeps creating amazing happy end life stories miles away from Hollywood happy ending cliches. Those people keep on turning the bad luck of many Kiwi people into good luck. And these plots never get overused. Or you get tired of hearing them.

ARHT has a collection of stories from people who are now alive to tell them. We’ve handpicked some of them for you.

Nathan’s head injury

Just one wrong step made a truck driver Nathan Russell in need of the rescue helicopter help. Stepping out of his two-metre high truck while transferring some work gear inflicted major head injury on Nathan.

The injury was bad enough to require an urgent neurosurgery. And hadn’t it been for the ARHT’s emergency transport service, Nathan may not have survived.

David’s cardiac arrest

Defibrillator Avoid WHS fines. Get a portable defibrillator that is regularly checked and maintained. Learn about defibrillators…

David Willis, the father of two has survived a severe cardiac arrest against all odds while on his Omaha Beach holiday. The event took place while David was beach-jogging at the break of the day.

Luckily for him, he didn’t have the beach all to himself as he had been expecting. Since AJ Hazelhurst and his wife Julie were just taking their two dogs for a walk. It was their regular.

But what helped David beat the odds is that Julie took her mobile phone with her. It was by a stroke of luck, as this wasn’t what she would normally do.

Using the AED app on her phone, Julie pinpointed the location of the nearest defibrillator in the local surf club. A lifesaver arrived with the defibrillator and helped shock David’s heart back to the action.

That’s when the ARHT crew touched down at the site of the accident and helped resolve this true lifesaving drama successfully.

High On the Idea? Jump On Board and Get Behind ARHT

Alsco is passionate about being a part of worthwhile causes like this. Lending financial support to ARHT gives our company a strong sense of mission. We’re bound and determined to show care and concern for our community.

And we’re no less determined to build on this legacy in the future.

Being only partially Government funded, Rescue Mission relies on the Auckland community support. Individual and corporate sector donations are vital in making ARHT push forward.

So, if you feel stirred to action and want to hear more uplifting stories with lives being saved, you should become a supporter. If you do, your contribution can save someone’s life, as the funds go directly to a specific mission flown by one of our helicopters.

With ARHT every cloud has a silver lining. Help make this proverb become our future reality too. We take pleasure in spotting each ARHT’s rescue chopper cropping up in the Auckland sky.

Donate to ARHT now and join us in knowing you are a part of something truly great.

Also, everyone’s invited to fly the flag for ARHT to ensure these amazing guys keep on taking to the skies saving people’s lives.

Alsco at the 2018 Auckland City Mission CookOff

Throughout its 150 year history, Alsco has been doing business with a greater vision in mind.

For us, it’s not just business and profits.

We strive to implement environmental policies in all that we do and our global mission is to positively impact our community.

We believe it is our responsibility as business leaders to serve our local communities.

It All Boils Down to Community Support

Alsco has been practising corporate social responsibility through various programs and partnerships.

Our previous engagements include providing fresh bandages to SPCA and helping the SHINE organization assist with victims of domestic abuse with our sheets and First Aid Kits in 2016.

Joining a Textile Waste Minimizing Program and involvement in Million Metres Streams Project were the highlights of 2017.

On March 7th, 2018 Mark Roberts, the CEO of Alsco NZ is participating in the Auckland City Mission CookOff. It’s a local charity event where top chefs and business leaders will support less privileged Aucklanders. They will be fundraising, preparing food and hosting a special meal.

About the Auckland City Mission

The Auckland City Mission is a registered charitable trust. From 1920 onwards, it has been actively engaged in helping those in desperate need.

As one of Auckland’s most significant social service providers, it focuses on offering help to poverty-stricken individuals and homeless people. But they also deal with the marginalized elderly group and those struggling with addictions.

The Mission offers crisis services, providing emergency support in food and clothing in a time of crisis. Its Health Centre offers primary health care services at minimal cost to the most marginalized Auckland residents. The services are granted to those people who otherwise wouldn’t have regular access to a GP.

The Mission further assists the elderly who live in isolated conditions and have trouble meeting their basic needs. It addresses the issues of Auckland rough sleepers. Besides providing them hospitality, it tends to their social needs and offers skill development.

The Social Detoxification Service offers help to people with addiction problems, including detoxification.

But the Mission is not only dealing with here-and-now problem-solving. It devises strategies to help struggling Aucklanders in the long run – thinking about how to enhance their future prospects.

Here’s the Auckland City Mission 2017 overview. This is what they accomplished with the help of donors and contributors:

• Distribute 13,714 emergency food parcels to struggling families and individuals
• Successfully house 128 homeless people
• Provide 7,977 doctor consultations to high-need patients
• Admit 390 people to residential drug & alcohol detoxification

About the Auckland City CookOff

The Auckland City Mission staff comes across heartbreaking life stories that have roots in deeper social issues. It’s not unusual for people who are reaching for their help to repeatedly experience the scenario of jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

It’s far from easy to escape the vicious circle of poverty. Of homelessness, addiction, or marginalization. Therefore, vulnerable Aucklanders need continuous support from the local community.

Having those things in mind, the Mission strives to inspire as many people as possible to join in and help. CEO CookOff is one of the initiatives to engage the leading businesses in helping those individuals.

At the CookOff the participants will compete in groups, where each team will be assisted by a celebrated Auckland chef. They will be cooking meals for families in crisis and homeless Aucklanders. And it doesn’t hurt to have a bit of entertainment along the way, does it?

The idea is to gather people of different social strata around something as universal as a meal. To facilitate social intermingling and enable local businesses to positively influence the community.

The participants are spearheading fundraising campaigns in other to reach the Mission’s goal of $250,000 for their food services. The raised funds will help provide 3,846 emergency food parcels for families in need.

Alsco’s in the Game

Mark Roberts, Alsco New Zealand CEO, recognized the Misson’s work as something truly valuable. It didn’t take him long to decide to get behind this good cause.

This is how he addressed the public in his Auckland City Mission CookOff campaign:

“I’m inspired by the work that Auckland City Mission do, interested in what I can do in some small way to help them to raise money so that they can continue to build on the great work they do. Please support my participation in the Auckland City Mission CookOff 2018, and help me to help them by donating to this worthy cause.”

Beginning on 15th December 2017 Mark Robert’s campaign has gathered an impressive number of supporters.

Alsco’s valued suppliers, customers and partners stepped up to support this wonderful cause with their generous donations. Here is the list of our supporters. The number is overwhelming!

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• SBN
• FilterFab
• Filta Cleaning Products
• Uni-Pak
• Deane Apparel
• Ecolab
• Leaseplan
• Iveco
• Newtech
• HIT
• Terracyclic
• McKinnon Group
• Instep
• Squash NZ
• Crestclean
• Jensen NZ Ltd
• Niche Consulting
• Jane Latimer Law
• 3 Piece Sales
• Astrolift
• Asaleo Care
• Goodson Architechts Ltd
• Asaleo Care New Zealand

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• Pacific Hygiene
• Kemsol
• Ange Brown
• Sharlain Vieviorka
• Barry Watson
• Helen Kemp
• Craig Douglas
• Tokyo Bay Takapuna
• Tim Regan
• Jill  Roebuck
• Margaret Roberts
• Stephan Baele
• Gary Whall
• James Brand Training and Consultancy Services
• Graham Notman
• Tony Colenso
• George Rowe
• Central Group Forklinks and Trucks
• Action Manufacturing

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• Peter Dean
• Daniel Smith
• Wendy Harvey
• Paul Ladbrook
• Jason Kay
• Cris Cooper
• Johnson Family
• Hickey Clan
• Scott Kittelty
• Cameron Rout
• Dave G
• Paul Gardiner
• Leane Roberts
• Devon Roberts
• Roy
• Charlene and David Woodhead
• Warren Wishnowski
• Steve Barden
• Brett Roberts
• Dean and Tracey Jones
• Peter Masefield
• Mike Bernath

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• Yunqi Deng
• Hendra Sukardi
• Tom Som
• Mike Compton
• Catherine Charteris
• Richard and Jessica Mahood
• Lynne and Gavin Smith
• Rebecca Rabson
• Spencer  Tait
• Aby Castady- Kristament
• Danielle Vercoe
• Sue Ren
• Kurt Petherbridge
• Jared McGregor
• Scott Bason
• Bronwyn Write
• Pat Munro
• Blundy
• Doug Graham
• John Gibbs
• Matthews Packaging and Hygiene

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The fact that numbers were rising at a rocketing rate prompted Mark to reevaluate the target, extending his goal from $20,000, $25,000 until it reached $32,816.22. When the target funds reached $32,816.22, he did not reset the target anymore. These were Mark’s words upon realising how numerous and generous the contributions were:

“Woohoo! – the generosity of all contributors is overwhelming. When I started I never dreamed we would get to $32,816.22. It just demonstrates that goodwill and caring are innate qualities in Kiwis – not going to reset the target but will continue collecting for this wonderful organisation that doesn’t judge – they simply help those in less fortunate circumstances. Please don’t stop just because my campaign has met the goal!

A special mention to the Suppliers of Alsco that have really made the difference – unbelievable – you have been fantastic. I believe the strength of our Supply partnerships, the loyalty and honesty in our relationships has made it easy for you to say yes, and for that I sincerely thank you.”

In a little over a month, Mark managed to raise over $32,816.22 with the help of contributors. And the Auckland City Mission has managed to reach 30% of their total fundraising target so far.

How can you help?

Alsco greatly appreciates all the support received to date for the CookOff event and encourages anyone who hasn’t already joined to visit our fundraising campaign page!

Jump on board and donate to this worthwhile cause!

The CookOff on 7th March is just around the corner! Be there for those that have nowhere else to turn. With your help, we’re sure we’ll be cooking with gas!

And as far as our CEO is concerned, we bet he is getting his Alsco Chef’s garment ready!

Photo courtesy of Flickr Images by DC Central Kitchen

Aeromedical Rescue Services

Mission Number 21465/Primary Response

Pilot- Rob Anderson, Paramedic- Chris Deacon, E.D. Doctor – Cameron Rosie, Crewman- Ati Wynyard

BK117–ZK HLN responded to Whangapiro to a 16yr old male patient. Multi-System Trauma. Status 1.

As 16-year-old Nathan lay motionless in the middle of an endurance Motocross track 10 minutes after a highspeed collision with a tree, he was informed by the first responder & instantly relieved to know that the Westpac Rescue Helicopter had been dispatched to his aid!

After stabilization on-site by the E.D. Doctor and Advanced Paramedic, the crew performed a winch extraction from the forest and a quick 20-minute flight to Auckland Hospital ensured another successful mission.

ARHT’s ‘Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime,” philosophy, which has become a hallmark of the ARHT management, support staff, dedicated rescue pilots, paramedics and flight crew, is what appeals so much to NZTS ALSCO New Zealand.

This year will mark 22 years of consecutive support for the service. Over the 2+ decades, the company’s sponsorship has funded numerous rescues for ARHT, including the mission detailed above. It was a direct result of NZTS ALSCO New Zealand’s support that a positive outcome for Nathan was achieved.

It was typical of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, which has been providing timely assistance to those in need and often in challenging circumstances. For the past forty-seven years, Auckland’s Westpac Rescue Helicopters have served the people of the greater Auckland area, with an aeromedical rescue service that is second to none.

From its pioneering days as a beach-based rescue unit at Piha beach, on Auckland’s notorious, Wild West coast in 1970, to a fully-fledged service in 2017.

The past five years have seen a major overhaul of the operation with a second Helicopter added to the fleet, a second hanger in Coromandel that opened in 2012, the blood carried on all aeromedical rescue missions and most significantly, ED specialist trauma doctors from Auckland Hospital flying with us on all weekday missions!

This service covers an area stretching from Waihi in the south to as far north as Wellsford and has a catchment area of some 2 million people.

Over this period, the service has completed some 19,500 accident-free missions and it has evolved into New Zealand’s only full time, 24 hour a day, air rescue service.

The type of work that the helicopter carries out is as diverse as the geography and the people, with which it serves.

In short, this service is available to Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime.

ARHT relies very heavily on the Corporate & Community sectors to help fund these missions past, present and into the future. Our average operation cost is currently $7,500.00 per rescue, and for the 2017 season YTD 500+ rescues have been undertaken & successfully performed!

ARHT’s aim is to continue to maintain/improve the service so that we can continue to provide the lifesaving work that we have been performing for the last 47 years!

With the continued support and understanding of the Corporate and Community sectors within the region, we will be able to achieve the goal of providing an aeromedical rescue service that is second to none; available to Anyone, Anywhere, Anytime.

Shaan Hulena
Corporate Fundraising Manager
Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust
P: +64 9 950 7278 F: +64 9 950 7251
http://www.rescuehelicopter.org.nz

Photo courtesy from rescuehelicopter.org.nz

The Kaikoura 7.8 Magnitude Quake Effects Story

Let’s begin with the understatement of the year:

The 2016 Quake Effects

It was a very shaky start to the 2016/17 tourism season for our Kaikoura customers, their businesses and families.

Just after midnight on the 14th November, the people and businesses of Kaikoura had their worlds turned upside down in just a few minutes.

The November quake and the aftershocks have had a profound effect on this beautiful and tranquil, small, seaside town.

On my first visit back, I couldn’t believe the level of damage and the changes in the landscape from when I was there just two weeks earlier, on Marlborough anniversary day, 31st October.

You can view images on Google (Kaikoura Quake Images)

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Photo courtesy by contractormag.co.nz

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Photo courtesy by dailymail.co.uk

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Kaikoura & Alsco Linen

Here we are a few months after, and I am happy to say that the town is being rebuilt. Access via the inland road and Christchurch has been mainly restored, unlike the access from Blenheim is still many months – if not years away.

Many of Kaikoura’s unique and wonderful attractions have reopened since then and the tourists are once again visiting Kaikoura.

Over the past 3 weeks, the numbers (e.g. Linen Orders) have almost doubled and as of this week, we are now going to Kaikoura 2 times a week.

The Unconditional Helped Given

However, back in mid-November, it was a different scenario that we were facing. With no road access in or out of Kaikoura and random communications with businesses, emergency agencies and customers. All of this was a regular thing until December.

But what we did have in Kaikoura was a Knight in Shining Armour. Well, maybe not a knight nor shining armour, but our local part-time employee Dan Young (in a shiny Van) who was based in Kaikoura and kept us informed about events as they occurred.

It was a very difficult time for all Kaikoura residence and for Dan it was no different. He had his family and was also working on his other part-time job, delivering milk etc.

Dan stayed in touch with all the Bays Laundry customers that he knew were open. He recovered clean linen from accounts which were not able to open, ensuring service continuance for those that were. This was fantastic and we appreciate Dan’s commitment to his customers very much.

The Soiled Challenge

Yet, we had a new challenge. There was a significant buildup of soiled linen bags. We had to get this soiled product out of Kaikoura as soon as possible. Looking at the short term, this was fine.

However, in the mid-long term, this could become a health hazard and a significant expense for replaced damaged stock.

We looked at a number of different scenarios to get the soiled linen bags out of Kaikoura, including airfreight. However, with $150 a bag and over 300 soiled bags in Kaikoura, this was way too pricey.

The Solution

The help came from Peter, an acquaintance of a friend of mine. He was in the boat building industry in Nelson. Peter owned a fishing boat and because of the quake damage in the bay, his boat was available.

Because of the seabed rising 3-4 metres and lack of fuel available, the local fishing industry in the area basically had to shut down just a few weeks after the quake.

Anyway, I got in contact with Peter and we arranged his fishing boat and crew to meet Dan in Kaikoura, where they loaded almost 300 bags of soiled linen onto the boat. They travelled to Picton for about 10-12 hours approximately, to meet up with our Bays Laundry Service Manager Shane Laurence who collected the linen bags.

We then loaded 150 Bags of clean linen back onto the boat to take back to Kaikoura.

For the next few weeks, as road access was improving, we serviced Kaikoura via the inland road. Initially, we had to go online and register to meet the emergency services, who then provided a guided transport convoy in and out of Kaikoura. Most of the service days consisted of departing from Motueka/Nelson at 3 am, returning at approx. 6 pm.

The cost of maintaining services into and out of Kaikoura is probably doubled than those of last year, with less than half the revenue.

However, as a long-term supplier with a commitment to the market, we owe it to our Kaikoura customers to be there and work with them to rebuild local businesses in the region.

Paul Ladbrook
Branch Manager, Alsco Bays Laundry