“We are delighted to welcome the Wallace Foundation on board and look forward to growing our relationship at what is an exciting time for our rescue services.”
The timing aligns with the imminent arrival of the region’s new Airbus H145.
It is set to significantly enhance patient care and boost reliability in remote or challenging conditions.
The Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter landed next to the National Aquarium to take a patient to hospital in 2024.
Jonathan Wallace said the region had been incredibly good to his family.
“The critical role the rescue helicopter plays in helping anyone, anywhere, at any time at no cost to the patient makes the Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter Service pretty unique, and that’s what’s driven us to get behind it.”
Lowe Corporation managing director Andy Lowe said continuing to facilitate hundreds of lifesaving missions each year was incredibly important in honouring his father Graeme Lowe’s legacy.
“Continuing my father’s mission to provide air medical lifesaving support for the community over 34 years has been an immense honour and a privilege not lost on my family.
“We have been proud to have been aligned with such a critical community cause and step aside with a deep sense of gratitude and positivity for the service’s future.”
Andy Lowe said his focus is now on local environmental and educational trusts; notably his conservation brainchild, Cape Sanctuary, alongside his other community interests, including at-risk youth.
Originally established primarily to respond to water rescues, Hawke’s Bay’s Rescue Helicopter Service expanded in 1989 to include patient transfers, police searches, accident recovery and marine emergencies.
By the early 1990s, the service secured sponsorship support from then Lowe Walker NZ Ltd before a name change move to become Lowe Corporation in 1997.