Whakapapa ambulance

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 291, 20 June 1989, Page 2

Whakapapa ambulance

Whakapapa and National Park's ambulance service, soon to be run by volunteers, will still service the Whakapapa Skifield.

The ambulance is to be based in the Whakapapa Village, and will service the area from Tongariro Corner (near Lake Rotoaira) to past National Park township. fhe ambulance will not be based in National Park, as was reported in last week's Bulletin. Volunteers are currently fundraising for an emergency services building in the Whakapapa Village to house both the ambulance and the fire tender. Currently the fire tender is housed in a Department of Conservation workshop shed, uphill from the village residential area. Service representative and Department of Conservation Officer Russell Montgomery said this location was unsatisfactory and that a site above the Chateau tennis courts was being looked at. The village social club was involved in fundraising, he said,

and may use the building as a social venue. The ambulance service was run jointly by the Taumarunui Hospital Board and Tongariro National Park but Mr Montgomery said DoC could no longer afford to pay for the service. The ambulance was operated by DoC officers, he said. Negotiations with St John's Ambulance are under way and the Hospital board has approved the volunteer brigade, said Mr Montgomery. Support for the service has so far come from National park, Whakapapa and Outdoor Pursuits Centre people but more are welcome, he said. Colleen Clark at Mt Ruapehu 738, daytime and 858 after hours is the contact person for the group. Russell said the training opportunity and challenge was what was attracting many of the volunteers to the service.