The Rotary Club of Wānaka’s Winter Cropping Competition will this year raise funds to establish a helicopter landing pad at the new primary birthing unit in Albert Town.

Competition organiser George Scott says it is a cause the whole community will benefit from. 

“A new baby is a precious little gift,” he said. “Every business I’ve spoken to so far has said ‘what a great cause’,” he said. 

The eight-bedroom lodge which is currently being converted into the birthing unit is due to open before the middle of the year, but the facility will not feature a purpose-built helipad for the rescue helicopter.

Despite this, Te Whatu Ora expects one to two births to require the rescue helicopter’s services each month.

With a helipad, a ramp, lights and a wind sock, transferring parents and babies from the unit to the helicopter would become “a whole lot easier,” George said.

The annual cropping competition usually raises more than $50,000 each year, and although the final build cost for the helipad is not yet known, money raised is expected to fund a significant portion, if not all, of the cost. 

George Scott PHOTO: Supplied

The annual competition judges the quality of local winter feed crops based on entries received from local farms. 

The majority of the funds are raised during the auction at the awards night, which this year will take place at the Lake Hāwea Community Centre on June 9. 

George said entries for the competition are coming in now and crops will be judged in May.

The awards night will feature guest speaker Carlos Bagrie, co-founder of My Food Bag and a star of the show Nadia’s Farm. Carlos and his partner Nadia Lim, farm at Royalburn Station on the Crown Terrace.

To enter the competition or to find out about supporting the auction contact George at [email protected].