Chris Fife announced as new Northland Rescue Helicopter ambassador

27 Feb, 2023

Well known rugby and livestock personality Chris Fife is the latest Northlander to join the Northland Rescue Helicopter as an ambassador.

Mr Fife has quietly supported the service for decades so his appointment makes sense according to Northland Rescue Helicopter Fundraising and Marketing Lead Jan Hewitt.

“Chris has helped with numerous Northland Rescue Helicopter and other community fundraisers around Northland over the years and is always willing to lend his auctioneering skills to events which we really appreciate. He is a great fit for our loyal team of ambassadors,” says Jan.

Mr Fife is heavily involved in the Northland community outside of his roles with the Northland Rugby Union (he is Chairman of the Northland Rugby Council and Director of the Northland Rugby Union Board) and as a PGG Wrightson livestock representative and auctioneer where his career has spanned 45 years.

The Te Kopuru resident says he is humbled to have been asked to become a Northland Rescue Helicopter ambassador.

“Supporting a Charitable Trust that saves lives and being able to officially play a part in helping keep the service in the air is why I believe in becoming an ambassador,” says Mr Fife. “This role runs hand in hand with what I am already doing in trying to make a positive and long-lasting impact on people and our community.

“As a rural service provider, a sports advocate and with my connections throughout all levels of Northland rugby and the broader business community, I hope to bring more support to this amazing air ambulance service.

“The fit with PGG Wrightson, Northland Rugby, the Rugby for Life programme and Northland Rescue Helicopter makes sense with the synergies we all share around integrity, professionalism, values, relationships and caring for our communities 24/7.”

Mr Fife is renowned for throwing his support in behind worthy fundraising causes - anywhere and anytime - and he has also been a loyal servant as a player and administrator for the Southern Rugby Club for over four decades.

He joins a team of loyal Northland Rescue Helicopter ambassadors which includes Kaipara Kumara’s Ant Blundell, teacher Monique Bradley, cricketer Joey Yovich, One News anchor Simon Dallow, 2022 Fred Hallows Junior Ambassador Madison Macmillan, Te Kopuru Angus stud farmer Chris Biddles, and MoreFM Northland’s John Markby who has backed the service since its inception in 1988.

Chris Fife says he is humbled to have been asked to become a Northland Rescue Helicopter ambassador. PHOTO/SUPPLIED