Mustang probe widens to include rescue chopper fundraising campaigns

Saturday, 25 July 2026

Shaan Hulena, inset, is one of three trustees of the NZ Rescue Charitable Trust. The Auckland buildings in the background are all registered addresses for the trust, and its affiliated businesses.

The Department of Internal Affairs is investigating at least four fundraising campaigns run by charity NZ Rescue, as two major North Island rescue helicopter trusts face questions from concerned supporters over the charity's failed Matamata muscle car raffle.

One of the organisations - Northern Rescue - has confirmed that all three trustees of NZ Rescue Charitable Trust, which is being investigated by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) about compliance with the Gambling Act, were past employees.

The DIA has also confirmed it is investigating at least three more NZ Rescue fundraisers undertaken for another Waikato-based rescue helicopter trust in the Coromandel.

Three Shelby GT350 muscle cars, valued at $574,985, were offered as part of the promotion being run by NZ Rescue (keyring pictured is not the promotional keyring).

This follows weeks of questions concerning the trust, which is the charity behind Matamata’s cancelled Key to Communities Shelby Promotion.

The promotion offered the chance to win one of three Shelby GT350 vehicles, worth a combined value of $574,985, by buying a $100 Key to Communities keyring.

It was advertised as a fundraiser for Matamata’s Pohlen Hospital, with promotional material stating up to 20,000 keyrings were available.

NZ Rescue Charitable Trust trustee Shaan Hulena.

The Waikato Times understands more than 9000 keyrings were sold.

The draw was due to take place on June 5 at Matamata Panelworks, the company which sourced and purchased the cars for the promotion, however, it was cancelled on the day.

NZ Rescue later said the promotion was canned because of “developments outside the control of NZ Rescue”, and that everyone who bought keyrings would receive a refund upon request.

NZ Rescue has run a number of fundraising promotions in the past, including three for the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust.

The DIA said it launched an investigation into NZ Rescue’s fundraising efforts after receiving complaints from the public raising concerns about the structure and operation of the promotions, including whether they complied with the Gambling Act, as well as matters relating to transparency, delivery of goods, refund processes and overall conduct.

The department described the Matamata campaign as a “sales promotion”, which is regulated under the Gambling Act but does not require a licence if it meets the Act’s requirements.

The Waikato Times contacted more than a dozen people who bought keyrings as part of the promotion.

Visits to all four of the publicly available Companies Register and Charities Register-listed addresses for NZ Rescue, and two of its leading trustees, showed no sign of them.

None had received keyrings, and four had received refunds at the time they were contacted.

An email sent by NZ Rescue to one purchaser stated the initial stock allocation of Key to Communities keyrings had sold out and there would be a delay while more stock was sourced.

The email said the purchaser’s order, and entry into the prize draw, had been confirmed.

Helicopter rescue services were pulled out of Whitianga in 2019, but the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust still operates a hangar facility there. Photo/File

Waikato Times found NZ Rescue’s structure extended beyond the registered charity.

Companies Register records showed trustees Shaan Hulena and Sandra Ratcliffe are also directors and shareholders of NZ Rescue Limited, The Key to Communities Limited, Hooked on Communities Limited, and Communities for People Limited.

NZ Rescue Limited’s business classification is “fund raising … on a commission or fee basis”.

The Waikato Times also visited four Auckland addresses connected to NZ Rescue, its associated companies, and trustees. None revealed their whereabouts, and NZ Rescue has not responded to repeated requests for comment.

In a statement, Northern Rescue, the charity that owns and operates the Auckland and Northland Westpac rescue helicopters, said it would not comment on matters relating to current or former staff.

Hulena was Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust’s general manager of fundraising, while Ratcliffe was Auckland Rescue’s former finance administrator.

Northern Rescue said “it has no affiliation or association with NZ Rescue” after receiving a number of enquiries from members of the public.

“The two organisations are entirely separate. It would be inappropriate for us to comment on the activities of another organisation,' it said.

'Our priority is ensuring the public understands that Northern Rescue, and the Auckland and Northland Westpac Rescue Helicopters, are separate from NZ Rescue, and that our emergency aeromedical services continue to operate as normal.“

Northern Rescue said it sought guidance from the DIA about the situation, and was told that people seeking refunds should contact NZ Rescue directly, and anyone who wishes to report an issue should email gambling@dia.govt.nz.

Philips Search & Rescue Trust (PSRT) head of fundraising and marketing Sharni Weir said it has “no connection or affiliation with NZ Rescue” after receiving multiple enquiries regarding NZ Rescue’s promotion.

“We operate independently and serve a very different purpose.”

PSRT is responsible for the North Island’s largest group of rescue helicopters - the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter, the Bay of Plenty’s Aerocool Rescue Helicopter, the central North Island’s Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, and the Manawatū/Whanganui region’s Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter.

“We have received a number of enquiries regarding refunds for the NZ Rescue Charitable Trust and its Key to Communities Shelby Promotion.”

Weir said this could be due to similarities between email addresses.

PSRT’s is info@rescue.org.nz, and NZ Rescue’s address is info@nzrescue.org.nz.

“We reassure our supporters that PSRT is not involved in this promotion and has no role in processing refunds,” Weir said.

“We are committed to ensuring that any confusion does not undermine the trust our supporters place in us.”

Weir said PSRT has “no involvement in NZ Rescue’s past or current promotions … our concern is limited to the confusion caused by the similarity between our email addresses, as well as the wider disruption that can occur when public confidence is affected”.

Westpac senior media relations adviser Melanie McKay said the bank, which sponsors rescue helicopter operations around New Zealand, had no connection to NZ Rescue and no involvement in the fundraiser.

The Waikato Times can also reveal that NZ Rescue has run three fundraisers for the Coromandel Rescue Helicopter Trust (CRHT), two in late 2025, and one in April, 2026.

These are also being investigated by the DIA.

The CRHT has not had a permanent rescue chopper on site since 2019, but operates a purpose-built hanger in Whitianga used occasionally by different rescue helicopter services.

Multiple calls and emails to the CRHT regarding how much money was raised, and what it was spent on, remain unanswered.

According to a recent NZ Rescue website update, “our small but dedicated team are working hard to process the many thousands of refunds as quickly as we can”.

“We ask for your patience as we work through this considerable task.”

The statement said it was “an extensive process for us to undertake” and “we are currently being inundated across all communication channels”.