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Story: Ambulance services

Air ambulance

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Air ambulance

Fixed-wing air ambulances began operating in the 1950s to transfer patients quickly from remote areas to hospital. They were still used in the early 2000s, and could carry a medical team and sophisticated equipment along with the patient.

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Life Flight Trust

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Ambulance services – Development of ambulance services, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22354/air-ambulance (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 4 February 2010.