Katikati has a brand-new ambulance stationed in town thanks to the generosity of a charity organisation called We Care Community Trust.

A dedication of the new Generation 4 ambulance took place at Hato Hone St John’s Katikati Ambulance Station on Sheffield St on May 6, attended by St John and town dignitaries.

Tust chairman Raji Singh gifted the ambulance to the community, which was followed by a dedication, prayers and blessings by Te Rereatukahia iwi, Area Chaplain for St John’s Central Region Reverend Jim Wallace, and Parminder Singh of WCT.

St John Western Bay of Plenty area operations manager Mat Delaney said the opportunity to get a new ambulance in a community like Katikati means a lot – “especially for the eight fulltime staff based out here”. “They’re out on a limb from the main town and often doing a lot of hard work by themselves until they can get more support.”

Delaney said the ambulance will be based at the Katikati station as its main service vehicle, and the vehicle it replaced will eventually be cycled out via St John’s national fleet rotation – so two ambulances remain in town.

New level of safety

“This new vehicle will travel from here to Waikato, to Whangamatā and it might go all the way to Te Puke depending on how the day unfolds but it will always come home to Katikati.”

Delaney said the Gen 4 model provides a new level of safety for both St John staff and patients. “One of the most important parts is the restraints, for our staff to be able to seated while they attend to a patient, with a seatbelt on. In years gone by, you just didn’t have that.

“It also comes with most safety features in terms of driving, such as lane assist etc, so all the bells and whistles to ensure our drivers are safe and can account for the unpredictable nature of what happens on the road.”

It’s also hoped the new vehicle’s functionality – including air conditioning at the back of the vehicle – will make for a more comfortable ride for patients.

St John staff and We Care Community Trust representatives stand in front of Katikati’s new Gen 4 ambulance after its dedication. Photo / Merle Cave

Katikati’s new ambulance is the fifth, at a price tag of about $350,000 each, that has been funded by We Care Community Trust since it was founded in October 2021, said chairman Raji Singh. The first four vehicles went to Te Puke, Hāwera, Thames and Kaipara.

The equalising gift

“I personally feel this is a community need and the St John works really hard and they need new ambulances to do their work and provide their service to the community,” Singh said.

Gen 4 ambulances also have features like power-load electric stretchers and stair carry chairs to facilitate easier and safer patient movement. “These ambulances come with very good technology, and there used to be back injuries for the staff – now these ones are automated, which is very good as well,” Singh said.

St John Katikati area committee chair Trevor Burgess said the town was small but an incredibly generous community to St John.

“The people of Katikati make donations to St John three times higher than the national average … and I think in many ways that reflects that they see the importance of having a reliable ambulance service in town. So having a new, up-to-date reliable ambulance is a pretty fantastic return for the people of Katikati, who also help us; so it’s brilliant.”

Wallace said a new ambulance is the best you can give to a community “because it is used by everyone sooner or later – hopefully later – no matter what race or religion they are”.

“So it’s the equalising gift no matter what. In a divided world, this a gift for everyone.”