About Us
We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
What we doOur strategy
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Our strategy: Kia ora te Tangata – Strategy 2030
Building on a strong history of accessible care for all.
Nearly 100 years ago Sir Charles Norwood had the vision to create an equitable and accessible health service for the people of Wellington when he founded Wellington Free Ambulance.
Sir Charles believed that emergencies should cost neither lives nor money to its users and it is our privilege to honour that legacy as the only emergency ambulance service for Greater Wellington and Wairarapa.
Improvements in technology, changes in clinical practice and access to medications as well as the needs of our community have influenced the service we’ve become.
Today, alongside emergency ambulance services, Wellington Free Ambulance also operates a clinical communications centre, provides a patient transfer service and provides medical support at a range of events across our region.
Wellington Free Ambulance has been part of New Zealand’s healthcare system for nearly 100 years, and the service has changed significantly over that time.
Continuous improvement within the paramedicine profession has seen innovative developments to emergency healthcare and increased support for increasingly complex cases.
Furthermore, the role of emergency ambulance services has expanded over time to include ancillary services, such as CPR training, and patient transfer services. Increasingly, this modernised system of ambulance services supports enhanced patient pathways and improved patient outcomes.
The wider healthcare system of New Zealand is also changing, most recently with the launch of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority. Our strategy must continue to align with the changes and direction of the wider public healthcare system and stay connected to our communities.
Strategy 2030 overview
View and download a copy
Read Kia ora te Tangata – Strategy 2030 below or download your own copy.