Māia Health Foundation Raise Over $1 Million for Rooftop Helipad at Christchurch Hospital

Māia Health Foundation has raised over $1 million in six short weeks for a future-proofed rooftop helipad and clinical support unit at Christchurch Hospital with the generous support of New Zealanders.

On Saturday 3 March 2018 Māia set out with an ambitious target to raise $500,000. The crowdfunding campaign received $525,747.66 through thousands of donations from as far north as Whangarei to Dunedin in the south, and as far afield as Sydney and London, far surpassing the campaign target. With Rātā Foundation matching dollar for dollar what the community raised (up to $500,000), $1,025,747.66 million has been secured for Canterbury’s helipad.

Christchurch Hospital is New Zealand’s busiest trauma centre and the only major hospital without a helipad on site. Currently it takes 13 minutes, on average, to transfer patients by ambulance to Christchurch Hospital after landing in Hagley Park. A larger helipad and purpose-built rooftop clinical support unit will mean critically unwell patients receive emergency hospital care immediately on touchdown, and a quicker transition to full care for routine transfers. For the neonatal unit, it will quicken the pickup and unloading of a neonatal incubator by up to an hour on a round trip.

Initial plans for the Acute Services Building included a rooftop helipad, however funding was allocated at a point when a smaller rooftop helipad was deemed sufficient. With the increased use of the air retrieval services by approximately 40% over the last three years, it became apparent that the region needed a larger helipad to cope with future demands. As funding was not available, Māia Health Foundation committed to raise $2 million by December 2018 to obtain these enhancements.

“New Zealanders have really outdone themselves. The depth of giving from within our community has been overwhelming and strongly reflects how much our people want to be a part of building a world class health system,”says Michael Flatman, Māia Health Foundation Chief Executive. “It’s been an incredible fundraising effort and with Rātā Foundation’s support we’re over $1 million closer to getting our loved ones emergency hospital care immediately on touchdown.”

Rātā Foundation’s Chief Executive, Leighton Evans says the helipad will be a game changer for the region and the foundation is proud to support a health initiative which will demonstrably save lives. “The partnership with Māia Health Foundation to match every dollar raised was an innovative approach which has proved very successful, with our contribution directly at the level of community support. No-one is disappointed to see their money double – especially when that money is going to a good cause and their impact is amplified,” he says.

Māia Health Foundation’s 13 minutes campaign closed at midday Saturday 14 April 2018. People can continue to support Māia by donating at www.maiahealth.org.nz, as to date the amount still needed to reach their $2 million target by December 2018 is approximately $700,000.

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