A state-of-the-art rooftop helipad at Taranaki Base Hospital will officially go live on Monday, 6 July, providing the region with enhanced round-the-clock emergency air transfer capabilities.
The commissioning of the landing deck marks one of the final stages of departmental moves into the hospital's new East Wing building, Te Rau Mātāpuna o Taranaki. Situated six storeys above ground level, the new facility ranks among the most advanced healthcare helipads in New Zealand.
Health New Zealand Taranaki confirmed the 25-metre by 25-metre deck is engineered to support aircraft weighing up to 7,000 kilograms. This substantial capacity allows it to safely accommodate heavy helicopters, such as the PHI aircraft frequently utilised by the region's offshore oil and gas sectors.
Positioned directly above the Emergency Department, the helipad connects to critical care areas via dedicated express lifts. A hospital spokesperson noted that this layout ensures rapid patient transfers and direct access to specialist medical care for people across the wider Taranaki region. The setup also features a specialised helipad lounge designed specifically for patients awaiting or arriving from transit.
The infrastructure includes high-tech safety systems to manage potential risks on the roof. A passive fire-suppression system is built into the deck to instantly contain and extinguish fuel fires if a helicopter tank ruptures. For night operations, incoming pilots can use remote technology to activate the helipad’s lighting system from up to 15 kilometres away.
The completion of the helipad secures a 24-hour operational service capability for Taranaki emergency healthcare for decades to come.
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