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.
The idea of an air ambulance is close to Mark Cressey’s heart.
A few years ago in the UK, one attended a fatal accident involving his brother.
“You never know when you may need it,” Mark says.
Mark and his wife Julie immigrated to New Zealand more than 20 years ago.
“We were dairy farmers in the UK but the size of our farm wasn’t really viable – it was a sunset industry. We wanted to farm in our own right and we couldn’t see that happening within the EU system.”
Mark says online research told them New Zealand would be exposed to more world dynamics, but they saw the industry here as sustainable.
“We came for a quick six-day trip to New Zealand and we really liked the people here, the less dense population, we liked the idea of everything. We’ve never looked back.”
Mark, Julie and their two teenage daughters initially moved to Mangakino in the North Island before relocating to the Ashburton district. Fourteen years ago, they bought a farm on the Waitaki Plains.
Today, Mark and Julie have a sharemilker on that farm while they live in Methven.
“Being in Methven we often see the rescue helicopter. It’s an area where lots of people are out enjoying the wilderness; the outdoors.”
Mark has taken on a number of outdoor adventures himself. He’s completed the Coast to Coast five times and has cycled the length of the South Island. He’s also joined other members of the Rescue Warriors on some South Canterbury charity bike rides.
When asked to join the Rescue Warriors and cycle the length of New Zealand, Mark says it seemed too good an opportunity to pass up.
“It’s a really neat thing seeing the country from a bike. You see it, you hear it, you smell it. In a car you’re just whizzing past.”
Initially Mark was riding in Team Muscle, but after a recent discovery that he was born with a defective heart value, he’s purchased an e-bike and will be riding with Team Live.
“I know the physical fitness is there, but I’ve not been able to do much training recently … being on a bike for so long will be the hardest on the rear end!”
But Mark is dedicated to the cause they’re riding for.
“As a business we have supported the rescue helicopter for numerous years. I’ve never had to ride in one thankfully but we’re a sparsely populated country with vast distances between key health infrastructure.
“The rescue helicopters are incredibly important, not just for our region but for the entire country.”
Donate to the Rescue Warriors here.
You can follow the Rescue Warriors on their incredible journey via their Facebook page.
Living in Methven, Mark says they often see the rescue helicopter flying overhead.
He says living in a sparsely populated country, with vast distances between key health infrastructure, the rescue helicopters are incredibly important.
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