At a function on Saturday morning, the 60-square-metre facility was blessed by Te Hahi Mihinare (Anglican) Rev Jimmy Green on behalf of mana whenua Ngai Tawhiri.

It is named after former EHRT chair Patrick Willock to acknowledge the incredible contribution he has made over more than 23 years of service.

“There have been significant changes in the industry over that time and Patrick has had a huge role to play in that,” said EHRT trustee and project liaison Murray Ferris.

“And he’s continuing to work to take the service into a new era so there was unanimous agreement that this was a great way to acknowledge that contribution.”

The Willock Wing is made up of bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and work facilities for members of the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter team; for relief crew; and for other emergency workers seconded in times of crisis.

Between the adjacent hangar’s own resources and those shared with Gisborne Airport, should the worst happen it will remain fully operational with power, water and communication systems in place.

“Cyclone Gabrielle was a hard time for our region, one when the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter team really came to the fore,” Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz said at the opening event.

“That it operates at all is thanks to the work done over decades by the (Eastland Helicopter Rescue) Trust.

“While we all hope not to have to need the rescue helicopter service, it is reassuring to know it is there and we thank them for the incredible job they do in and for our community.”

Led by local company Dawson Building, the build cost around $360,000 and was funded by a post-Cyclone Gabrielle Regional Resilience grant from the Health NZ/ACC Ambulance Team.

“This sort of initiative is exactly what that funding was designed for,” says Mr Ferris. “In recent years our region has been through a lot, and our vulnerabilities were exposed, so this project goes some way to addressing that.

“And the build could not have gone better. Under the guidance of Pete (Dawson) and foreman Thomas Brown it was delivered on spec and on time, and will soon be ready for use by our team and other emergency workers. Our only concern is that we’ve made it too comfortable and the team will never want to go home!”

During Saturday’s blessing EHRT chair Ian Parker noted the trust’s origins 36 years ago, in the wake of Cyclone Bola.

“Bola gave rise to a volunteer-led local rescue helicopter service whose foundation we continue to reference as our guiding principles.”

The event marked the Gisborne base’s position as the benchmark for the service’s operations company, Search and Rescue Services Ltd, Mr Parker said.

“That is within the group’s eight North Island bases and not just in terms of bricks and mortar, but in the people who do their mahi here every day.

“But while this is a special occasion we will not become complacent. Our work continues as we continually strive to advocate for and support operations that deliver equitable access to health services for all of our communities.”

CAPTION: BLIND-SIDED: EHRT trustee Murray Ferris (right) congratulates former chair Patrick Willock, who says he was blind-sided to learn the new rest facility would carry his name.