Prominent New Plymouth businessman Bryce Barnett has been named as Patron of the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust.

Barnett was welcomed into the honorary role during a small ceremony at the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter hangar at New Plymouth Base Hospital today.

Barnett spent eight years with the Trust, taking the reins as Chairman in 2012 and helping ensure the future of the Rescue Helicopter. He was subsequently recognised as Taranaki Daily News Person of the Year in 2013.

In 2018 he received a NZ Order of Merit for services to governance and philanthropy in the Taranaki region in recognition of the many roles he has occupied over the years.

Current Trust Chairman Evan Cottam is delighted to welcome a person of such high standing into the position of Patron.

“Bryce has contributed so much to the Rescue Helicopter over the years, navigating through some incredibly difficult times, and he has continued that extraordinary support since leaving the Trust.

“He continues to be an advocate for the Trust in the community, and the title of Patron provides some recognition for that,” says Cottam.

In addition to naming Barnett as Patron, the ceremony served to present pounamu pendants to Bryce and each of the flight crew. The pendants were carved, corded and lashed by Terry Hignett, and Melody and Darrin Vedder.

“We don’t see these as gifts from us, but as gifts from the community for the valuable work they carry out for the Taranaki people,” said Hignett.