New Zealand’s ambulance services are getting a big funding boost in this year’s Budget, with $35 million set aside over four years to help crews respond faster and serve more Kiwis.
The announcement was made by Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello earlier this week, ahead of the Budget being released.
The money will fund two new ambulance hubs in Auckland — large bases where crews start and end their shifts. One hub will be in South Auckland. Paramedics and support staff will also get new technology, including a digital system that lets them share a patient’s health information in real time with hospitals, helping doctors be ready before the ambulance even arrives.
More ambulance volunteers will also be recruited, especially in rural and lower-income areas where crews are sometimes stretched thin.
The government said demand for ambulances is rising fast. By 2030, the number of emergency calls is expected to reach 735,000 per year — that’s 95,000 more than today.
The new funding builds on $77.7 million already invested in ambulance services since 2023.
