Air ambulance and helicopter rescue services are vital given the low population density of New Zealand and the significant distances between tertiary hospitals. There are a large number of operators with all being sponsored by a commercial entity and bearing its name for marketing purposes; for example Auckland, Waikato and Wellington helicopters are sponsored by the Westpac Banking Corporation and branded as "Westpac Rescue" while others include the Taranaki Energy Rescue Helicopter, Square Trust Rescue Helicopter, Bay Trust Rescue Helicopter etc. Clinical crew (typically Intensive Care Paramedics) for the helicopters are full time employed Intensive Care Paramedics. Domestic fixed wing air ambulance services are typically use pressurised and converted Fairchild Metro aircraft, equipped as flying Intensive Care units. and it has been estimated that after corporate sponsorship and government subsidy, it is necessary to raise approximately NZ$2,500 (around US$1,400 in 2009) in donations for each mission.
