St John to stop its specialist emergency paramedic team on 20 December 2026

Hato Hone St John will stop operating its Specialist Emergency Response Team (SERT) at the end of 20 December 2026. The specially trained paramedics work alongside police and firefighters at high-risk scenes. St John has three SERT teams, in Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch. Health NZ did not progress St John's request for SERT funding in the 2026/27 financial year.