The Rescue Warriors is a group of 12 blokes from mid Canterbury who are biking the length of New Zealand to raise money to support MISSION 2026, the modernisation and transformation of the rescue helicopter service across Canterbury and the West Coast.
Ahead of their ride in February 2026, we thought we’d catch up with each of the warriors to find out what’s inspired them to take on this challenge.
Richard Andrews admits he was a little envious when the Rescue Warriors biked the length of New Zealand in 2022.
“I had been casually riding with one of the guys but was working full time and couldn’t commit to riding 3,000 kilometres,” Richard says.
A few years on, in a moment of weakness, Richard agreed to make 2026 the year he would tick ‘ride the length of New Zealand’ off his bucket list.
“I thought if I don’t do it now, I’ll never do it!”
Richard moved to Hinds from Waiuku in the North Island in 2001 and purchased a dairy farm. His next-door neighbour was Warren Harris, one of the original Rescue Warriors.
About ten years ago he joined a social mountain biking group called the Café Peddlers.
“We were riding between coffee, cakes and beers. Now it’s getting a bit more serious!”
Richard is “chomping at the bit” to get started on the Rescue Warrior ride, but right now his aim is to get to the start line in one piece.
“It’s an awesome bunch of guys to be taking on such an epic challenge. By the time I get to the end of Ninety Mile Beach I don’t know if I’ll still be talking to them though!”
Today, Richard is a Livestock Dairy Coordinator for Carrfields, an agricultural product and service company and significant supporter of the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust through the Carr Family Foundation.
“Carrfields have been really supportive of the Rescue Warriors and our ride. We all know the rescue helicopters is a damn good cause to be riding for.”
Richard’s wife Caroline, three daughters and three granddaughters will also be cheering him on.
“The Rescue Warriors ride has created opportunities to speak to people about the rescue helicopter service and just how valuable it is to our community. Many people don’t understand just how much it costs to keep it in the air.”
Richard’s training is going up a gear this November as he and some of the other Rescue Warriors tackle the Kahurangi 500, a 500 km loop of the Kahurangi National Park.
He says the Kahurangi ride will be a real test for the legs and body.
“We’re starting to get to the business end of the challenge, and it can’t come soon enough. I’m really keen for people to follow us and help us raise money for the rescue helicopters; it’s a damn good cause.”
You can follow the Rescue Warriors on their incredible journey via their Facebook page.
Richard wants people to follow their progress and help raise money for the rescue helicopters, because he says it’s a “damn good cause to be riding for”.
