Marque supporting life savers
Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand (MMNZ) has announced it is providing a fleet of its Outlander plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to Life Flight after becoming a principal sponsor of the organisation.
Life Flight is a not-for-profit aeromedical service that responds to more than 1,700 emergencies across the country each year.
MMNZ says the new partnership reflects its commitment to equipping frontline organisations with the practical tools required to serve New Zealanders in urgent need.
Tony Johnston, MMNZ chief operating officer, adds: “We are proud supporters of a number of local charities and we considered Life Flight to be a natural fit as a partner.
“Not just because of the amazing work it does in the community, but also because the service has touched a number of our own staff directly.”
Barry Gratton, MMNZ senior analyst programmer, received critical care from Life Flight after suffering a cardiac arrest in 2024.
“I was incredibly fortunate that Nigel, a Life Flight critical care flight paramedic, was quickly on hand to start advanced life support,” explains Grafton.
“Over the next 90 minutes, he kept me alive and stabilised me to the point I could be transported to hospital.
“After a month-long stay and open-heart surgery, I returned home with a new appreciation of the skill and dedication shown by these incredible first responders.”
Life Flight crews are ready around the clock and on average 32 people rely on its services every week, with missions ranging from critically ill babies to serious accidents and remote medical emergencies.
“The fact that one in five missions involves a baby or child in urgent need meant there was no question that we needed to step up,” says Johnston. “In conjunction with our Wellington-based Mitsubishi Motors dealers, we are truly committed to helping Life Flight in their critical work.”
A fleet of Outlander PHEVs will be supplied and maintained for urgent transfers between Life Flight’s base at Wellington Airport and Wellington Regional Hospital, supported by a group of local dealers.
The initial tranche of vehicles is being supplied by Gazley Mitsubishi, Delaney Mitsubishi, Brendan Foot Mitsubishi and Wairarapa Mitsubishi.
Mark Johnston, Life Flight chief executive, says: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Mitsubishi New Zealand and their local dealerships to help ensure we keep our aeromedical teams flying 24/7, 365 days a year.
“We’re also really excited to be transitioning into the latest plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology, as many of our journeys by road are over relatively short distances.”
The Outlander PHEVs, which have an EV range of up to 84km, will also be used by Life Flight support teams to assist with community fundraising and public outreach across the region.
“Their eye-catching branding will provide increased visibility in the wider Wellington region, further highlighting the reach of our life-saving services,” added Life Flight’s Johnston.
The Life Flight partnership expands MMNZ’s range of community support through vehicle donations.
In 2023, the company formalised its support for Taskforce Kiwi by supplying three long-term loan Triton utes to assist with natural disaster response, volunteer training and community rebuilding efforts across New Zealand.
Vehicles were also supplied to Wellington Free Ambulance and other health-related charities as part of MMNZ’s staff-led Matariki donations programme.
“Mitsubishi vehicles are already trusted by thousands of Kiwi families – now they’re playing a part in protecting them, too,” adds MMNZ’s Johnston. “It’s a natural extension of our belief that great vehicles should serve a greater good.”
