To Shane Reti (Minister of Health) and Casey Costello (Associate Minister of Health),

We, the undersigned, are calling for your Government to fully fund New Zealand’s ambulance services for 100% of operating costs.

New Zealanders deserve a fully functional ambulance service that can meet patient needs, ensure the recruitment and retention of experienced medical staff, and be fit for the challenges of the future. Currently, Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance operate on a partially charity-funded model, and this is not sufficient.

At present, ambulance services are at breaking point. Crews are understaffed and overworked and pay negotiations with Hato Hone St John have now lasted for more than 10 months without success. Pay rates have fallen significantly behind comparable roles in other emergency health services both here and overseas, threatening the longevity and resilience of our ambulance services.

We’re calling for 100% operational funding for our ambulance services with the following aims:

• Additional suitably crewed frontline ambulances are deployed across all cities and rural locations so that New Zealanders have access to emergency ambulance services in a timely and efficient manner
• Reduced response times in cities and rural locations through the employment of more frontline crews
• Access to regular meal and rest breaks and reductions to extended working hour rosters for ambulance officers
• Ensuring that emergency frontline personnel have regular access to training and support programmes
• Fulfilment of pay structures that properly remunerate frontline emergency roles based on qualifications held
• Bringing ambulance officers’ pay back into line with other urgent health professionals in the public system
• Ensuring the emergency communications centre is fully resourced to meet the needs of New Zealanders before an ambulance arrives

We cannot wait years, or for another election cycle. Our ambulance service is too important to be relying on charity donations every year.

Do the right thing and immediately provide 100% Government funding for New Zealand’s emergency ambulance services before it’s too late.

Your sincerely,