Air ambulance changes will strengthen the service, says Minister of Health David Clark.

But Rotorua MP Todd McClay doesn't echo David's sentiments, saying the closure of the Rotorua chopper base will put lives at risk.

Confirmation today from the Labour-led Government that the Rotorua rescue helicopter base will be closed is a massive blow to the people of Rotorua, MP for Rotorua Todd McClay says.

'Health Minister David Clark has said that there will be no change in response times, but that simply doesn't make sense when helicopters will have to travel from other centres.”

David says within the central region concerns were expressed about proposals to replace bases in Rotorua and Taupō and instead provide coverage with helicopters from neighbouring centres.

He says feedback has been listened to, and a base will continue to operate from Taupō.

'Taupō's high volume of search and rescue operations means it makes good sense to have a shared emergency response approach at this base. However the Rotorua base will not be part of the new contract.”

The Trust operating in Rotorua is part of the new contracted service for the central region, but it will operate from other bases in future.

The Rotorua region will be covered by helicopters in Taupō, Tauranga and Hamilton, with the response times estimated to be the same or faster than under the current model. Rotorua does not currently have paramedics on site, while Hamilton is moving to 24-7 staffing and Tauranga has paramedics on hand during the day.

Rotorua is 14 minutes flying time from Tauranga; 18 minutes from Taupō and 26 minutes from Hamilton.

'I accept that there will be some unease in Rotorua about this change. To reassure the community that it will continue to receive a consistent, quality service a new clinical oversight group will be created to monitor the impact of these changes.

'Our current air ambulance services have done a great job over the years. Today's announcement is about ensuring they go from strength to strength,” says David.

Todd says the people of Rotorua deserve to have their own rescue helicopter service.

He says they shouldn't have to rely on choppers coming from Taupo, Tauranga and as far away as Hamilton.

'It takes about half an hour for a helicopters to arrive from Hamilton, that length of time could be the difference between life and death.

'The people of Rotorua have every right to feel that they've been let down by having a critical service taken away from them.

'I'm calling on the Minister to do what's right and reverse this decision before lives are lost.”