Turning Vision into Life-Saving Action: New Zealand’s First Medical Drone Delivery Trial

At Ferntech, we don’t just sell drones. We solve problems. Last week, that problem was urgent: delivering life-saving medical supplies to a remote island community when every second counts.

In a New Zealand-first trial, we worked alongside VertiLink, PracMed NZ, Fire and Emergency NZ, and Te Kutaroa Marae to launch a series of historic flights between Ōmokoroa Domain and Matakana Island using the DJI FlyCart 30.

Driven by Community, Powered by Technology

This trial began with people, not hardware. VertiLink and the University of Auckland, alongside Te Kutaroa Marae whānau, identified a clear need in 2024: faster, more reliable access to medical supplies.

The project was designed to demonstrate how emerging aviation technologies can uplift communities on their terms, addressing real-world challenges like isolation and emergency response times.

Ferntech brought the heavy-lift drone capability and operational expertise required to turn that vision into reality.

Real Stress, Real Solutions

PracMed NZ coordinated a full-scale emergency simulation, including severe arterial bleeds, to test the workflow under pressure.

Piloted by the Ferntech team, the DJI FlyCart 30 delivered trauma treatment equipment directly to the scene at Te Kutaroa Marae. Beyond speed, this demonstrated reliability in live airspace, backed by our experience as New Zealand’s only DJI Gold Partner.

 

From Concept to Capability

The trial proved that speed saves lives. The drone bridged the harbour, covering the delivery leg of a 2.7km return operation in just 4 minutes, bypassing the potential delays of road or water transport.

This rapid arrival meant the medical team could access trauma gear immediately. Within minutes of the drone landing, they successfully stopped the simulated bleeding and had the patient fully stabilised, packaged, and ready for transport. The exercise successfully transformed a theoretical concept into a proven operational capability.

A Model for the Future

The trial went beyond emergencies. Multiple return flights delivered prescription medicines from Ōmokoroa Pharmacy and returned locally grown produce.

This two-way logistics capability demonstrates how drones can support local commerce, not just crisis response. By prioritising community leadership, this project highlighted how culture and process can produce solutions that serve people, the environment, and the economy. VertiLink is now using these findings to plan a national vertiport network to support safe and equitable Advanced Air Mobility across Aotearoa.

 

Why Partnership Matters

Deploying a heavy-lift drone in live airspace isn’t just about hardware. It requires technical expertise, regulatory knowledge, and operational support.

As New Zealand’s only DJI Gold Partner, Ferntech delivers the deep technical capability and specialist service that mission-critical operations demand. We were proud to support VertiLink, PracMed NZ, and Ngāi Te Rangi iwi as they pushed the boundaries of what is possible.

Acknowledgements

This collaboration demonstrates what is possible when community leadership, technology, and expertise come together. Our sincere thanks to VertiLink, PracMed NZ, Fire and Emergency NZ, Ōmokoroa Pharmacy, Hato Hone St John, Ngāi Te Rangi iwi, and the Matakana Island community for making this trial a success.

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In the News

Watch the full coverage of the trial from Aukaha News:

 

Read more coverage:

• NZ Herald: Medical drone trial to connect Ōmokoroa and Matakana Island
• Te Ao Māori News: Drone pilot project offers fresh hope for whānau living on Matakana Island
• NZ Herald: VertiLink medical drone trial points to faster care for remote communities
• eVTOL Insights: New Zealand’s First Medical Drone Delivery Trial Hailed A Success
• RNZ: Successful medical drone delivery could offer faster healthcare access for remote communities