From our Chief Executive
2024 has been a year of progress at Wellington Free Ambulance, progress and change that is needed to ensure our services have the capacity and capability to be there for our communities’ growing and changing needs.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported Wellington Free during 2024 – it is because of you, your generosity of time and also donations, that we are able to continue the mahi and mission started almost 100 years ago. We are all fiercely proud of our free emergency ambulance service and will continue to uphold that founding value well into the future thanks to your support.
Wellington Free Ambulance is a partnership, our team supporting our community, our community supporting our team. The strength of that connection is strong, I hear it and see it each and every day. Whether that be talking
with paramedics on Station, talking to call takers in our clinical communications centre or hearing from people who have needed our service - the thread that runs through those conversations is people. That feeling of relief when you know help is on the way, the huge respect for the clinical professionalism of our frontline services, the intense gratitude and depth of relationship that is developed over time through the patient transfer service. All this does not exist without the extreme dedication of our people and the support of our community.
Thank you once again for your support, your belief and your care for Wellington Free Ambulance.
From our General Manager Fundraising and Communications
As 2024 comes to an end I would like to thank each and every member of our community for your generous donations and unwavering support for Wellington Free Ambulance.
Each year we must fundraise around $8 million to keep services free, this includes over $2 million to fund the vital fleet that underpins the community response of our service. Your contributions not only provide essential resources and equipment but also strengthen the bond we share, working together to ensure equitable access to healthcare for all people across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa. It is inspiring to see how our community comes together, demonstrating that we are stronger when we support one another, driven by shared values.
Philanthropy plays a crucial role in our mission, as it allows us to deliver timely and effective care to those who rely on us in emergencies. Personally, I believe that the spirit of philanthropy reflects our shared values and commitment to one another. It is not just about funding services; it’s about ensuring people can rely on Wellington Free Ambulance, strengthening our resilience as a region. Your kindness makes a tangible difference, thank you for being an essential part of this vital
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As an essential health service, Wellington Free Ambulance is aware of our responsibility to ensure all people across our community have equal access to ambulance services. With the release of Strategy 2030 Kia ora te Tangata towards the end of last year, considerable effort and energy has been dedicated to better understanding our people and the needs of our community from an equity and access perspective.
A highlight from the year is the expansion of Ōritetanga Manapou (Earn while you Learn) with the third cohort welcomed during 2024. This programme supports Māori, Pasifika and underrepresented communities to become paramedics by removing financial and social barriers to enrol in the Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicine) degree course while gaining work experience with WFA during their study. This programme is a partnership between Wellington Free Ambulance, Ministry of Social Development, ProMed NZ Ltd, Whitireia New Zealand, and local iwi Ngāti Toa Rangatira.
WFA’s Thorndon ambulance station and offices in Davis Street are located on the original Pipitea pā site, a culturally significant location for Te Ātiawa and Ngāti Pōneke, who share Pipitea Marae today. It’s a privilege for WFA to nurture a close relationship with the iwi mana whenua who we’re intrinsically connected to by the land we’re based on. To strengthen this connection, we welcome all new kaimahi (workers) to attend a pōwhiri (ceremony) at Pipitea Marae as part of their welcome to
WFA. The pōwhiri is followed by a cultural education day focused on Te Ao Māori (the Māori worldview), equity and bias, Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi), and Māori and Pasifika models of health. This regular connection reinforces the importance we place on partnership with Māori and growing our team’s cultural competency.
Te Rōpū Kaimahi is an advisory group established from within the Wellington Free team to bring lived experiences and act as equity champions for our organisation. This group helps guide initiatives at Wellington Free Ambulance including our newly launched internal cultural training podcast AKŌRERO.
Yvonne Gemmell, Ngāi Tūhoe Programme Lead – Māori and Equity
Supporting our community Emergency Ambulance Service
The ambulances we see each and every day around our community, responding to people in a medical or accident emergency, are iconic for people in Greater Wellington and Wairarapa.
No matter the reason why they’re responding, the sense of relief that people describe when the crew arrives seems universal. Every single day, an average of 17 emergency ambulances crewed by our team of highly trained and experienced paramedics are supporting our community. During 2024 we welcomed several new members of the team – new graduates beginning a career in paramedicine having received their Bachelor
of Health Science or experienced paramedics moving to the region to work with Wellington Free from other parts of New Zealand and across the world.
During the year the number of paramedics serving the community in the Wellington Free team grew to 226. As well as crewing our emergency ambulances, the team also staff our Urgent Community Care team, Rescue Squad (this specialist squad is called upon to reach and treat patients in hard to access areas like dense bush and rugged coastal locations) and flight paramedics who work on the Life Flight helicopter.
These are the people working 24/7, 365 days a year in and for our community.
In the past year
54,757 emergency ambulance responses to patients
Meet Joanna
37,866 patients transported for further treatment
16,891 patients treated at home with no need for transport
“They saved me, they gave me life,” explains Joanna (pictured second from right) following an accident that left her with multiple lifethreatening injuries.
Clinging to life, wedged motionless, pinned under the front of a car, Joanna had life-threatening injuries when the Wellington Free crew arrived.
Joanna is adamant that the immediate response and medical treatment from the attending crews
2,499,937 kms travelled by EAS fleet
gave her the best chance possible. Once stabilised, Joanna was immediately transported to hospital where the full extent of her injuries became clear - collapsed lungs, a serious head injury and significant crush injuries.
After multiple operations and many months of rehab Joanna came to thank the Wellington Free team who had responded. “They show up and they save lives. Those words sound far too simple, but it’s the truth, they showed up, gave me expert medical care and saved me,” says Joanna.
Extending our fleet new critical care vehicles
During the year our frontline services benefited from the addition of five critical care vehicles to our fleet.
Critical care vehicles look different to the larger ambulances that most people are familiar with, which form the bulk of our fleet. While physically smaller than a traditional ambulance these critical care vehicles hold all the gear needed for an ambulance response.
These vehicles are integral in our fleet across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa. They’re used to support an ambulance crew response, restock vital equipment or medication at a major incident or to transport a paramedic with specialist skill to a patient in need.
A huge thanks to the donors who supported the purchase of these vehicles:
• Tonks Family Foundation
• RRT
• Pub Charity
• Trusts Community Foundation
• Dorothy L Newman Charitable Trust
• Sutherland Self-Help Trust, Euan Wright
• One Foundation
• Ross Martin
• Hilda Curtis Charitable Trust
• George #3 Trust
• Bert and Mary Wilson Charitable Trust
• Nikau Foundation
Meet David – Critical Care Paramedic
David has been a paramedic for 25 years, starting out as a volunteer ambulance officer in his rural hometown.
David decided to build a career in paramedicine because “I have a passion for helping people and making a difference. The pre-hospital field provided the variety that I thrive on and also the challenge of no two days ever being the same”.
“People need to know there is always someone there to help – without judgement, who will show up regardless of the circumstances. That’s our job as paramedics.”
Even after 25 years of clinical experience David firmly believes that there is always something to learn. Every job is a learning opportunity.
Reflecting on his decades-spanning career, David describes himself as ‘happy’ with what he’s done over his career and believes being there when people are having their worst days is a privilege.
As well as frontline work, David is also a mentor and educator to people starting out in their paramedicine career. He’s helping to shape the future paramedics who will continue to serve and support our community.
Meet the team
The People of WFA
Meet Matt
Matt is a Paramedic and Relief Shift Manager with over 14 years of service to Wellington Free. Matt is also a volunteer firefighter and member of the Hutt City Emergency Response Team.
“When you do a job like this, it’s not a job, I love being around people, and you can see the impact that you can make every day on people’s lives. It is a very unique job, and you’re exposed to all sorts of different situations, and you can make a significant difference for people.
Whether it’s attending to someone in cardiac arrest or someone who has fallen over and broken their leg, or a major emergency, every incident is an opportunity to help people. Of course, saving lives is the ultimate goal.”
Meet Az
Az is a Call Taker in the Clinical Communications Centre at Wellington Free, answering calls to 111. Az has an amazing ability to keep calm under pressure and recently received a Save a Life pin for providing life-saving CPR instructions over the phone when a patient was in cardiac arrest.
Az was only a few months into call taking when they answered the call that a patient was in cardiac arrest. Call takers provide actions in the moment that can have a lasting impact, like in this case. Although Az was providing instructions, it was a (currently anonymous) bystander that performed CPR, demonstrating how so many people play an important part in an emergency response.
When Az heard that the patient was resuscitated and, after further treatment at the hospital, was discharged, they thought it was “really cool to hear, especially as it happened so early into my call taking career”.
Meet Sam
Sam is a Patient Transfer Officer in the Patient Transfer Team: a service that operates 365 days a year, taking patients across the region to healthcare treatments or appointments.
Sam joined the team six years ago knowing the opportunity to use her love of people and her ability to relate to people from a wide range of backgrounds for the good of the community would suit her well.
“It’s such a privilege to be a part of someone’s last days of life” Sam says, recalling the transfer of a patient from hospice to their home, or the humbling experience of transporting expressed breast milk to babies in Wellington Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the initial restrictions that accompanied the early COVID-19 response. “These daily deliveries were vital for both the mum and baby – keeping the babies nourished when it was difficult for mum to be there if she had COVID for example.”
The People of WFA Meet the team
Meet Róisín
Róisín is a Call Taker at Wellington Free, while also studying towards their paramedicine degree and working as an Event Medic. Róisín started working as a call taker to see “how a call goes from start to finish, and to understand the information that’s gathered before an ambulance is dispatched. It’s also helping my communication and technology skills”.
Call takers answer an average of 640 calls a day, and they need to be trained and prepared for any emergency to be at the end of line, as every call is different.
Róisín explains that there’s a specific structure to 111 calls that starts with gathering an address first, so we know where to send the ambulance. As the caller gave the address for Costco in Auckland, Róisín wondered if perhaps someone had had a fall, or an employee was unwell. Róisín recalls that the caller didn’t seem too stressed, so it was “kind of a surprise” when the caller explained there was a lady in labour in the bathroom…
Róisín remembers turning to their mentor –as a trainee call taker at the time, Róisín was assigned a mentor who supports, guides, and provides valuable feedback to prepare them for independent call-taking – as if to say, ‘what did they just say?’.
Róisín talked to multiple people throughout the call, from Costco staff to the dad- and mumto-be, skilfully guiding them through various questions and instructions to work out what was happening. When Róisín was told the soon-tobe mum wanted to push, they knew the baby was coming now. “We’re in the weeds now”, Róisín thought.
Asking Costco staff to time mum’s contractions, Róisín prepared to help them deliver the baby. Róisín remembers a lot of background noise followed by the news they wanted to hear –“the baby’s out”.
However, this was quickly followed by the realisation that the baby was in a sac. En caul births are really rare – it’s when a baby is born still inside an intact amniotic sac.
Róisín was able to instruct staff about how to break open the sac and thankfully the baby was breathing – they even heard the baby crying in the background. With mum and baby safe and well, Róisín stayed on the phone until the first emergency responders arrived.
Although Róisín answered the call in Wellington (the Thorndon 111 clinical communications centre is one of three centres across Aotearoa New Zealand, with the other two being in Christchurch and Auckland), the emergency ambulance service attending was Hato Hone St John as the service supporting Auckland communities. This is just one example of how the emergency ambulance service provides joined-up care across Aotearoa.
Now that they’ve delivered their first baby over the phone, a major milestone for any call taker, Róisín is the proud owner of a stork pin (a pin shaped like a stork that’s presented to call takers who guide baby deliveries). Róisín acknowledges they were working alongside Costco staff and the dad-to-be, supporting and guiding them on the ground that day. Róisín laughingly remembers that the pin was waiting for them at the end of the call, as Supervisor - Call Taking, Lea realised what was happening and wanted to present them with it as soon as possible.
A stork badge is presented to every call taker who a guides delivering a baby over the phone.
The heroes at the end of the phone Clinical Communications Centre
These are the reassuring voices that answer the phone when you come through to Wellington Free Ambulance Clinical Communications.
They’re the heroes you never see who provide the first response in a medical or accident emergency, taking details, determining the severity of the situation and in the most lifethreatening situations talking callers through doing CPR until the ambulance crew arrive.
Located alongside the call taking and dispatch team are the clinical paramedic advisors (CPAs)
Clinical Communications
In the past year
246,093 calls answered
179,536 emergency 111 calls answered 66,557 non-urgent calls answered
who work in the clinical hub. The paramedics working on the clinical desk are all highly trained and experienced paramedics, who provide clinical support and advice over the phone to patients and paramedic road crews. The clinical desk team provide clinical reviews of patients who have been triaged by the clinical communications call takers, a hugely important part of ensuring the best response for the patient. CPAs also provide telehealth services which can address low acuity patient needs over the phone, removing the need for an ambulance to be dispatched.
Clinical Hub
18,881 calls supported by Clinical Paramedic Advisors
7,630 incidents treated over the phone
Meet Kristy – Clinical Paramedic Advisor
“I find it rewarding to organise alternative options for patients where an ambulance isn’t required.”
Kristy has been a Paramedic with Wellington Free Ambulance for 10 years, for a little over 6 of those years she was a Preceptor for Graduate Paramedics. A preceptor is a mentor for people making the transition from study to practising paramedicine, they support, guide and help to train new paramedics in their first year after graduation. Kristy is hugely passionate about education and supporting others to learn and spent time working as a Clinical Educator with Wellington Free.
Today Kristy holds a part-time role working in the community as a paramedic and also on the
clinical desk as a clinical paramedic advisor (CPA). She joined the CPA team as a way to broaden the scope of her work and develop her telehealth skills as another way to provide clinical care to patients over the phone. Holding the dual role of face-to-face patient care and clinical desk work, Kristy believes they enhance each other. Using her clinical knowledge over the phone to assess patients means “you are more comfortable providing advice and options to patients and on the road, you’re more aware of the pathway options in the community.”
Kristy was a recipient of a Council of Ambulance Authorities Women in Ambulance awards in 2024 and completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Science in 2022 to enhance her clinical practice.
Patient Transfer Service
Our Patient Transfer Service is a vital health service designed specifically to ensure people get safely to and from vital healthcare treatments and appointments across our region. The service operates 365 days a year across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa taking people to daily dialysis, cancer treatments or from one hospital to another for example.
In the past year
Meet Than
43,403
patient transfers completed
Over the past four years Than and her family have built a strong bond with the Patient Transfer Officers (PTOs) who take Than to her daily hospital dialysis treatment.
Than’s daughter Phillipa describes the team as family. Over the time that Than has used the service, a closeness has developed with the team she sees regularly.
Phillipa describes the relationship between the PTOs and Than as “just brilliant, they know her so well. If mum isn’t their first pick-up of the day, she gets grumpy and likes to say ‘me first! Me first!’.” The bond between Than and the PTO team is obvious to Phillipa, her sisters and her family as Phillipa explains how “mum is so happy with them and always smiles and shouts ‘bye’ when they drop her off”.
To show her family’s appreciation for the care shown to Than by the PTOs, Phillipa and her sisters bake for them, three times a week, every week! The baking is not just about showing gratitude, it’s Than’s wishes for her daughters to do this for the team and it makes her happy.
Most patient transfers are on a pre-booked system, arranged in advance by any of the regional hospitals. However, on any given day, the acute needs of patients who require immediate transport are a priority for the team, which is especially critical in the more rural areas of our region. Often people in the Wairarapa may need to come urgently to Wellington or Hutt Hospital for specialist treatment or testing, and members of the team can be mobilised at a moment’s notice to respond to this urgent need.
1,312,320 kms travelled by the Patient Transfer Service fleet
“Every day, the PTOs’ dedication stands out. They take such good care of mum. Every PTO will come and talk to her which makes her so happy. I can hear how beautifully they speak to her, telling her it’s ‘nice to see you’. They’re brilliant, I can’t fault them.”
Equipping our community to save lives
The Lloyd Morrison Foundation Heartbeat Programme
Approaching its tenth year in 2025, The Lloyd Morrison Foundation Heartbeat Community CPR training programme continues to go from strength to strength. Over the course of this foundational partnership, Julie Nevett and The Lloyd Morrison Foundation have donated more than $5million to support the vital life saving work of Wellington Free Ambulance across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa.
I am so glad I attended this course. I feel that I have a much better understanding of what to do when faced with a situation where someone is unresponsive and not breathing. Thank you, Wellington Free Ambulance, for making this course available.
The annual donation not only fully funds The Heartbeat Training Programme, meaning the training is freely available across our community, the donation also funds the purchase of a fully kitted front line ambulance to ensure our fleet is ready and available when called upon. Heartbeat focuses solely on the practical technique and rationale behind CPR, how important it is to immediately seek help and access an AED to give the person suffering a sudden cardiac arrest the best chance of survival.
In the past year The Lloyd Morrison Foundation Heartbeat Programme impact has been: people taught CPR, ranging from 4-98 years old, including 7,648 CPR training sessions were held, at:
2,441 students
196
87 businesses/ workplaces
96 community/ sport groups
13 student courses
31 public CPR training events
105 community AEDs installed
32 AEDs privately sold in the region
Over 500
AEDs installed in the programme’s lifetime
I probably do not need to tell you how much everyone appreciated your presentation. Virtually every person commented how worthwhile and engaging your talk was. I truly believe that a life may be saved in the future as a result.
The Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Registry 2022/23 shows the impact this training is having across the Wellington Free Ambulance region with the highest bystander CPR rate (78%) in five years.
During this year the training has been delivered to people aged 4-98 and during the lifetime of the programme over 42,000 people have been trained and more than 520 AEDs installed across Greater Wellington and Wairarapa. One of the centrally located publicly accessible AEDs in Wellington has been used five times in a two year period, with three successful outcomes.
Programme Highlights
• Introduced a dedicated Heartbeat tutor for the Wairarapa region.
• Focused on our Pasifika communities with three dedicated Pasifika tutors providing culturally appropriate training across nine events.
• Expanded our team of Heartbeat tutors to include paramedic students, to support increased demand for our courses.
Joe’s Story:
“I’m here to do another birthday run thanks to Wellington Free Ambulance”
23 June 2024 was a remarkable day for Joe. Not only was it his 80th birthday, but he was running the Wellington Marathon with his son, Paul. It was Paul’s first marathon, making it even more special for them both. But over halfway through the marathon, Joe felt like “all memory seemed to fade away”.
There were no warning signs of the sudden cardiac arrest that was to come. Thankfully, Joe’s fellow runners understood what was happening and immediately began performing CPR, used an AED that was located close by, and rang 111. Within minutes, our Paramedics Leanne and Glen arrived to take over CPR and administer defibrillation.
By the time they arrived, Joe had started to breathe, and his heart to beat. “Because an AED and CPR were used so quickly, Joe came around really quickly, which meant he had a really good prognosis and the best chance of a positive outcome,” Glen says.
Joe recalls little of the incident that almost ended his life. He vaguely remembers “hearing traffic noise and a siren, presumably when I was in the ambulance, before realising I was still alive in the Wellington Hospital Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit”.
The combination of the team of bystanders recognising that Joe was experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest, prompt calling of 111, CPR and defibrillation without delay, fast ambulance arrival, and further advanced care from paramedics is known as ‘the chain of survival’.
For Joe, the chain was unbroken, giving him the best chance.
“How can I express enough gratitude to Wellington Free Ambulance other than to say thank you to this fantastic, dedicated team from the bottom and top of my heart?”
“I’m here to do another birthday run thanks to Wellington Free.”
Event Medical Services
The Event Medical Services team plays a key role in supporting the community at events, attending concerts, festivals and sports events across the region. In the last year, the team supported one of the largest events our region has hosted.
The team of event medics are trained as first responders to provide immediate support to anyone who becomes unwell or suffers an injury at an event. The first responder team of event medics come from all walks of life and backgrounds – people working for Corrections, lawyers, pharmacists, lifeguards and civil service workers make up this diverse team, all united by the desire to support our community across the region.
From large to small events the Wellington Free Event Medics attend it all, including the largest music event to come to our region, Jim Beam Homegrown.
In the past year
473 events supported by Event Medics
Jim Beam Homegrown
The Homegrown festival attracted a crowd of over 26,000 people across five stages, spanning the Wellington Waterfront.
The Event Medical Services team, supported by frontline Paramedics and WFA Senior Medical Director, were onsite providing triage and a field hospital for anyone attending this massive event. The team treated 178 patients throughout the day and night.
“This is a huge achievement for us to provide medical support to such an incredibly Welly event. Our crews operated a field hospital, provided exceptional onsite care, put in some long hours and did a fantastic job keeping attendees safe. A testament to the dedication, training, and professionalism of the medical personnel on site, resulting in minimal impact to our frontline Emergency Ambulance Service.”
– Alex, Event Medical Services Coordinator.
10,774 hours spent at events by Event Medics
Meet Dan – Head of Event Medical Services
“You’re a paramedic 24/7, it becomes part of who you are”.
A personal tragedy and witnessing the clinical care and compassion shown by Wellington Free Ambulance paramedics motivated Dan to train for a career in paramedicine. He was impressed by the clinical expertise and “weird calm” the paramedics brought to the devastating situation almost 10 years ago.
“Teamwork, communication and common sense are massively important. You’ve got to be really analytical, capable of staying calm under pressure and problem solving, making decisions in an instant.” Dan explains.
Like many paramedics this isn’t just job, it is a vocation that “becomes who you are”. Paramedic
training and the mindset to go towards people needing help, experiencing their worst moments, is something that extends beyond the official day to day role.
“You do it because you love it – you have the ability to do something for a person when they need help the most. You can positively impact them and our community.” Dan reflects.
Most recently Dan has been heading up the Event Medical Services at Wellington Free Ambulance, reigniting this important service to the community. This year Dan was one of the staff heroes for our Onesie Appeal along with his gorgeous baby daughter, pictured above.
The crew behind the crew
Regular and ongoing donors are an essential part of the Wellington Free Ambulance team. As a 24/7, 365 days a year service, we need to be here for our communities when they need us –and around 1,600 extraordinary people who donate on a regular, ongoing basis support us to do this.
By donating regularly, our paramedic crews know that they’ve got a team behind them (that’s why we call them the crew behind the crew!). This team helps equip our paramedics with the essential equipment and vehicles they need. Which in turn means our communities can access emergency ambulance care, free of charge, whenever they need it.
Each year we must raise $8 million from the community and regular, ongoing donations form a crucial part of this. These vital donations are used to provide essential healthcare services, including our Emergency Ambulance Service.
An emergency ambulance callout, on average, costs $650. Last financial year, regular and ongoing givers donated around $637,000 –that’s over 980 callouts funded, and over 980 people (parents, children, grandparents and loved ones) whose lives were changed and saved.
Michael and Bronwyn’s story –
“We’re so grateful for what Wellington Free did”
“We decided to donate to Wellington Free because of our son, Sam.
Back in 2017, he was working when he collapsed. The fire brigade and Wellington Free took care of him. They worked on him for quite a long time, including restarting his heart with an AED [automated external defibrillator]. He got through that.
Over the years, Sam needed repeated defibrillation, and the ambulance always turned up.
We decided to donate to Wellington Free on a regular basis because we’re so grateful for what they did for Sam.”
In mid-September Greater Wellington and Wairarapa were abuzz with talk of our annual Onesie Appeal. The largest community fundraiser on our calendar is a fun event with a serious purpose.
Together we ask our community far and wide to donate to help keep the free in Wellington Free Ambulance - and 2024 did not disappoint! Our amazing supporters came together, donating their time for street collection and donating online and through Onesie Day fundraising activities across schools and businesses.
Our goal was to raise $200,000 during Onesie Appeal week. We’re thrilled to share with you that together, we raised almost $238,000!
A massive thank you to everyone who volunteered their time; donned a Onesie and represented in your community; and fundraised or donated through their school or community group, business or early childhood centre. We really value and appreciate your time and support.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Go Media our outdoor advertising partner and our major prize partner – Ohtel Group. Helping to raise awareness and giving us a special treat to thank our fundraisers is just Onesie-ful!
Supporting the Wairarapa Build Wairarapa Station
In January 2023 we embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign to Build Wairarapa Station, creating a purposebuilt facility in Masterton to support the Wairarapa.
Since launching the campaign and engaging with the community, there has been tremendous support for this station that will house the local crews alongside the existing Greytown station at Five Rivers.
The build at the corner of Queen and Russell Street in Masterton is well underway with all progress leading us towards a March 2025 move-in date.
There have been more than 1,025 individual donations contributing to the build, from $3 to two $1 million gifts.
A huge thank you to everyone who has given and helped to achieve the $8.5 million target.
Since the campaign launch, we’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity and unwavering community support for the team and the station. There have been more than 1,025 individual donations contributing to the build, from $3 to two $1 million gifts. A huge thank you to everyone who has given and helped to achieve the $8.5 million target. A special mention of gratitude to Station Build Ambassador Bob Francis for his tireless work in the community on behalf of Wellington Free. This vital investment in the community has been funded in partnership between Wellington Free Ambulance, a contribution from central Government, and the community through fundraising support.
A lasting memorial to Sam and Angus
Ten years ago (2014) two Wairarapa lads, two of three brothers, Sam (19) and Angus (15) Donald, died in a tragic vehicle accident on their way to go fishing on the coast.
Fishing was something they’d enjoyed many times before, but on this occasion, for reasons unknown, their vehicle left the road, and they sadly died in the crash. Members of the local fire brigade and Wellington Free Ambulance paramedics attended and, as in many rural communities, were part of the initial support to the grieving family. This kindness and the excellent care have stuck with the Donald family and when they saw the appeal to help Build Wairarapa Station they knew this would be a fitting tribute to their boys.
A memorial fund was established in memory of Sam and Angus, with family, friends and the wider community all contributing. Tracie and David Donald pledged $20,000 from this fund as a sign of their gratitude to emergency personnel to help establish the new Wellington Free Ambulance Station in Masterton.
Sam and Angus’s father, David, knows the boys would wholeheartedly support this donation. “They were very community-minded and understood the importance of the community rallying and supporting initiatives that benefited everyone, which the ambulance service does,” David explains.
Meet Brian
It was a Saturday morning and Brian was working on a farm in the Wairarapa when he felt ‘uncomfortable’ in his chest.
As well as the donation in memory of the boys, the wider Donald family has also made an additional significant donation from their family trust. The trust was established following the sale of the family farm. The family has farmed in the South Wairarapa since around 1850. This family trust has previously supported many community clubs and services – the Martinborough Golf Club, Wairarapa Clay Target Club, and the Life Flight rescue helicopter as examples.
Kowhai Trust family spokesperson David comments “the Wairarapa Ambulance Station has brought a positive vibe to the community, it’s a wonderful asset for the district and the local staff.”
He hadn’t been feeling unwell in the days and weeks prior to this, so there was no indication of what was about to happen – a cardiac arrest (the sudden loss of all heart activity). Thanks to a quick response by Wellington Free Ambulance Paramedics and FENZ (Fire and Emergency New Zealand), Brian is here to tell his story.
Recognising he was feeling unwell, Brian made his way back down from the farm to his home and his wife, Sharon. He recalls telling Sharon about the discomfort he was in, and she quickly
rang 111. The Martinborough volunteer firefighters arrived first with a Wellington Free Ambulance shortly after.
In Brian’s words, he “carked it for a minute” then remembers “waking up, with Sharon beside me. I remember the uncomfortable feeling in my chest had gone.”
Brian had had a sudden cardiac arrest – the sudden loss of all heart activity. Brian recalls the paramedics were so ‘reassuring’ even though he was in a critical condition. “It was so fortunate,” Brian says. “If they’d arrived 5 minutes later, I would have stayed dead.”
After being transported to Wellington Hospital Brian had a stent (a short, wire mesh tube) fitted into his artery to keep it open in the future. He is doing well and enjoying his semi-retirement on the farm.
A transformational gift for many generations
Donald Forrest Jones is remembered by his family as a humble, kind, quiet and generous man with a quick wit and a wealth of stories from a life well lived. He was always thinking about what was next in life and even in the weeks leading up to his death was excited to be planning the next big project alongside his family.
After a lifelong career as an accountant (he reluctantly relinquished his last client at age 90), it’s not surprising that Donald has ensured his legacy will continue for many generations. Last year Donald and his family made a transformational gift to Build Wairarapa Ambulance station – committing $1 million to help fund this vital asset for Wellington Free and the community.
Donald was adamant that during his lifetime he was to remain anonymous, which fits with his humble and private nature. Since his passing in March 2024, it’s now appropriate to publicly acknowledge and celebrate his life and legacy with the community that will benefit from his generosity.
Growing up and spending most of his life in Palmerston North, Donald was from a family of six – including two sets of twins. A lifelong bachelor, Donald loved travel, art and history and had a passion for architecture and buildings. He was an entrepreneur who also believed deeply in service to the community and others.
Donald lived his final years in the Wairarapa, enjoying being closer to family. It’s during this time in the Wairarapa that Donald saw and experienced firsthand the need for and importance of Wellington Free Ambulance. The Fenix Foundation, a charitable trust Donald established, has supported well over 160 charities to varying degrees over many years, but the time had come to make a substantial donation that would potentially help everyone in the area, which is where the purpose built Wairarapa Wellington Free Ambulance Station came in.
Donald was thrilled to donate to a cause that supports everyone in the Wairarapa. He was particularly interested in this property project due to the IL4 building rating required to ensure this ambulance station is fully operational as a community hub in a civil defence emergency. He knew that at some stage anyone and everyone could benefit from his donation towards the Station as a service that’s there for anyone.
The $1 million donation given by Donald and his family is historic for Wellington Free Ambulance as the largest ever single gift from a family made to the service.
Right up until his last days of life, Donald was wanting to get things done and achieve things, discussing his wish to donate the flag for Wairarapa Ambulance Station with his niece, a wish we will be proud to honour when the station build is complete.
The $1 million donation given by Donald and his family is historic for Wellington Free Ambulance as the largest ever single gift from a family made to the service.
Donald will be remembered as a selfless man who wanted to help people. His private nature means his generosity and compassion for his community may have gone unnoticed during his lifetime, but with this tremendous gift to Wellington Free Ambulance his memory and legacy will live on for many generations to come and be appreciated by all.
Ngā mihi nui Donald.
Our People
Meet Eden
“As soon as I get to a patient, I want them to feel safe and listened to in my care. It’s such an honour to be part of their lives and to help patients in their most vulnerable time. I believe my role is never a sacrifice always a service.”
Eden joined Wellington Free Ambulance as a graduate in 2023, realising a childhood dream of becoming a paramedic. Volunteering during a gap year cemented Eden’s desire to have a career with purpose.
“Helping to renovate a residence for street kids in Ethiopia was really eye opening, seeing the poverty and challenges for these young people made me realise how important family support, good employment options and education are. It made me really committed to having a skill set that would help people.”
It is such an honour to have people welcome us into their homes to help and be part of their lives for a short time. It would be really easy to be sad all the time in the work and world we see. I focus on what can we do to help them now and I always think about if this was my mum, dad or sister/brother? – Eden
Meet Jess
Jess also joined Wellington Free as a graduate last year after working as an Event Medic during her studies. Jess chose to work in paramedicine because she believes that being a paramedic is extremely rewarding and being brought up in Kāpiti she wanted to stay working close to home with Wellington Free Ambulance.
Jess’s commitment to the emergency services and giving back to her community extends beyond her day job. She’s also a volunteer fire fighter for the Waikanae Fire Brigade, something she’s been doing for five years – thanks to the enticement of her aunt and also her grandfather.
Our People
CAA Women in Ambulance Award recipients
In 2020 the Council of Ambulance Authorities (the peak body for Australian, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea ambulance sectors) launched the Women in Ambulance Awards. The honourees have been acknowledged as women who are making significant strides in advancing women’s equality within the ambulance service. The award recognises their unwavering commitment to excellence and propelling positive change across the profession of paramedicine and shines a light on their dedication, resilience and leadership.
Across the three countries who are members of the Council, 56 women were recognised in 2024, five of the awards going to women from Wellington Free Ambulance.
Emily Regitien – Training & Quality Supervisor
Dispatch – Continuous Improvement Team
Emily is described as an empathetic individual, patient, understanding and perennially positive. Her attention to detail and process mean she is an amazing dispatcher. The team know they can rely on Emily for support, guidance and advice. Emily is a champion for continuous improvement, education and development and a leader in many areas of clinical communications.
Jo Thompson – Extended Care Paramedic
Jo completed a Bachelor of Health Science in 2015 becoming a paramedic at Wellington Free Ambulance shortly after. Jo has now completed additional training to work as an Extended Care Paramedic. Supporting and mentoring new staff is a highlight for Jo assisting others to develop their practice. “I continue to love my job and remain committed to treating patients with a high level of care, respect, and compassion they deserve.”
Kristy Cornwell – Clinical Paramedic Advisor
Kristy has been a Paramedic with Wellington Free Ambulance for 10 years, for a little over 6 of those years she was a Preceptor for Graduate Paramedics. Kristy is hugely passionate about education and supporting others to learn and spent time working as a Clinical Educator with Wellington Free.
Melissa Whitaker-Atkins – Clinical Paramedic Advisor/Equity Advisor
Mel has been with Wellington Free Ambulance in a variety of roles for just over 10 years, joining as a volunteer in 2013 whilst studying towards her Paramedicine Degree. More recently Mel has worked as Operations Advisor, assisting the recruitment team and supporting new staff. Mel was recognised for this outstanding contribution as a joint winner of the WFA Employee of the Year Award last year. In 2024 Mel moved into the Māori and Equity team as an advisor.
Rachel Evans – Heartbeat Manager
Rachel joined Wellington Free Ambulance in 2013 and has worked a variety of roles including Patient Transfer Officer, Event Medic, Heartbeat tutor, she gained her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) qualification while volunteering frontline. Currently Rachel is Heartbeat Manager, responsible for The Lloyd Morrison Foundation Heartbeat community CPR/AED training programme. This programme teaches people lifesaving CPR skills and how to use an AED free of charge. Over 7000 people each year learn this vital skill, free of charge, through this programme.
Award recipients 2024 L-R: Jo, Mel and Kristy (absent are Rachel and Emily).
Our People
Each year Wellington Free Ambulance recognises the extraordinary commitment of our people through our Annual Staff Awards and Long Service Award presentation. A huge thank you to local philanthropist Barbara Blake who generously supports the Awards each year in memory of her grandfather George Cox, a Wellington Free Ambulance Board member during the 1960s.
Each staff award category is linked to the values of our organisation:
Act with Kindness
Recognises those who demonstrate the value of manaakitanga. Care and compassion are fundamental to our work, and this individual or team are gracious and kind in all their interactions, treating people with dignity and respect both inside and outside the organisation.
Award recipient - Mel Whitaker-Atkins
Be Authentic, Original and True
Reflects the individual or team’s ability to respect and champion diversity and inclusivity. They help foster a respectful and safe environment that celebrates individuality, nurtures trusting relationships, and empowers everyone to feel confident and comfortable in bringing their true, authentic selves to work.
Award recipient – Jesi Nugent
Keep Getting Better, Together
Acknowledges the person or team that is committed to embracing change through continuous improvement, innovation and collaboration. They are dedicated to working together and growing together to drive significant, positive contributions to our organisation.
Award recipient - Cheryl Watson
Lead by Example
Values a passionate individual or team who embodies Wellington Free Ambulance’s values and standards through their actions. They use their knowledge, expertise and exemplary behaviour to inspire and support others, and help guide and influence better outcomes for all.
Award recipient - Simon Croad
Chief’s Commendation
This recognises exceptional acts that contribute to people, families and whānau that go above and beyond the expectations of our service. These actions exemplify courage, commitment, determination and dedication to the health and wellbeing of our communities.
Award recipients - Tim Roberts and Elle Coker, and Dr Andy Swain
Congratulations to ALL award recipients
Our People
Employees of the Year
Mel Whitaker-Atkins and Jenna Kerr
Jointly awarded for their outstanding contribution and dedication to recruitment, onboarding and welcoming new staff to Wellington Free Ambulance. Both Mel and Jenna have been instrumental in supporting international and local recruitment work – going above and beyond to warmly welcome, train and support people joining the team from a range of backgrounds.
Long service awards
A range of milestones of service were acknowledged this year, collectively recognising over 320 years of service to Wellington Free Ambulance and the community.
The number of lives, families and communities that have been made better through the service of those listed below is incalculable. We honour and acknowledge the significant contribution and thank you for your service.
10 years’ long service
Margaret Kerslake
Rachel Evans
Joanne Thompson
Heather Leckie
Cheryl Watson
Heidi Little
Josie Corkery
Laura Cummings
Mel Whitaker-Atkins
Natasha Laurenson
David Logan
Stefanie Keyworth
John Whitehead
Tatiana Wells
15 years’ long service
Stuart Broderick
Chris Bourke
Claire Gilroy
Lynda Attrill
Wayne Stevens
Rob Gladding
20 years’ long service
Nigel Stephens
Christine Galvin
Jonathan Rees
Michelle Scarr
Kate Worthington
Sarah Sundgren
25 years’ long service
Sharon Cretney
30 years’ long service
Ross Weddell
35 years’ long service
Alan Wilson
Support from our business community
Team is a thread that runs through every area of Wellington Free Ambulance – from the clinical communications to emergency ambulance, patient transfer to our stores and workshop – it all works because of the team coming together with a united goal.
A hugely important part of this team extends into our community – specifically into the business community in Greater Wellington and Wairarapa. There’s a core group of dedicated businesses who act as ambassadors and advocates for Wellington Free – these are our Support Crew businesses. As 2024 draws to an end we’re proud to acknowledge the 47 businesses who have committed to supporting the work of WFA and our community in this way.
All have a different reason for getting involved but all are united with the core purpose of ensuring Wellington Free Ambulance services remain free of charge to anyone in Greater Wellington and Wairarapa.
David Aldrige, Director and Principal of Integral Group, a business Support Crew partner who has been supporting Wellington Free for over 20 years shared with us:
“I’ve always wanted to support Wellington Free, as you do a great job in the community and you never know when you’ll need help. Be careful what you wish for though, as I’ve now ended up being a frequent flyer! Keep up the great work.”
Meet the team from Momentum
As part of their commitment to Wellington Free Ambulance as a Support Crew Business Partner the team at Momentum get right behind our Onesie Appeal.
After having such a fun time in 2023, this is the second year that the team donned their Onesies and volunteered for our Street Collection.
During the year 13 new businesses came on board as Support Crew –welcome and thank you to:
• Point North Advisory
• Prodigy Design Ltd
• Momentum
• Wellington Chamber of Commerce
• MARDAG Holdings
• Talent Connect
• Roof Wellington
• Kleenrite
• Coherent
• Titan Cranes
• Navigation Financial Partners
• Z Energy
• Mojo Coffee
“We had so much fun last year, and the highlight was how many people stopped to donate and share their
stories of Wellington Free with us. If we didn’t already think it was such a worthwhile cause, it was after that!”
The team at Momentum choose to support Wellington Free Ambulance because they recognise the importance of having an accessible ambulance service for our community.
“Wellington Free Ambulance is an organisation that you hope you’ll never have use but knowing that we can do our bit to help fund their lifesaving work, is really a no-brainer for Momentum.”
In the past year
The impact of Wellington Free Ambulance
Clinical Communications
246,093 calls answered
179,536 emergency 111 calls answered
66,557 non-urgent calls answered
Clinical Hub
18,881 calls supported by Clinical Paramedic Advisors
7,630 incidents treated over the phone
54,757 incidents attended
574 responses by Flight Paramedics
Patient Transfer Service
43,403 patient transfers completed 1,312,320 kms travelled by the Patient Transfer Service fleet
Cost to people of Greater Wellington and Wairarapa needing help and support:
Emergency Ambulance Service $0
37,866 patients transported for further treatment 16,891 patients treated at home
21 specialist Rescue Squad incidents 2,326 responses by Urgent Community Care Team
87 Co-Response Team incidents
2,499,937 kms travelled by emergency ambulances
Event Medical Services
473 events supported by Event Medics
Thanks to your support!
10,774 hours spent at events by Event Medics
