Coasties will benefit from a significant boost to emergency services, with Hato Hone St John set to receive over $21 million in additional government funding.

Associate Minister of Health Casey Costello and Minister for ACC Matt Doocey announced the increase today, bringing the total government support for St John’s ambulance and communication services to nearly $357 million for the 2024/25 financial year.

“Hato Hone St John provides an essential service by ensuring people receive timely treatment in an emergency. This is a significant uplift in a constrained financial environment,” Ms Costello said, highlighting the importance of the funding.

The new funding is aimed at ensuring St John’s emergency road ambulance services continue to operate effectively, particularly as healthcare demand rises across New Zealand.

Mr Doocey echoed the sentiment, stressing the need for well-funded emergency services.

“This investment will ensure the ongoing delivery of Hato Hone St John’s emergency road ambulance service. We know that adequate funding of our road ambulance services is essential to ensuring New Zealanders have access to emergency health care,” Mr Doocey said.

The announcement follows positive developments in negotiations between Hato Hone St John and its unions, which have now been settled.

This resolution removes the threat of industrial action that could have affected emergency services.

“We know Health NZ and ACC have worked closely with Hato Hone St John to minimise disruption and ensure essential services remain available,” added Ms Costello.

For locals on the Hibiscus Coast, the funding increase means reassurance that critical emergency services will remain uninterrupted, with St John continuing to provide its life-saving support across the region.