“Hato Hone St John provides an essential service by ensuring people receive timely treatment in an emergency. This is a significant uplift in a constrained financial environment,” said Costello.

The new funding brings the total support from Health New Zealand and ACC for the financial year 2024/25 to nearly $357 million. This investment will be directed toward sustaining the delivery of emergency road ambulance services across New Zealand.

Doocey said the funding was crucial for maintaining access to emergency health care.

“We know that adequate funding of our road ambulance services is essential to ensuring New Zealanders have access to emergency health care.”

Costello also expressed relief over the resolution of negotiations with St John’s unions, ensuring that no further industrial action would disrupt services.

“We know Health NZ and ACC have worked closely with Hato Hone St John to minimise disruption and ensure essential services remain available,” she said.