The roomy four-wheel-drive ambulance arrived last week, not a moment too soon for the Wanaka St John crew, who were keen to have it before the ski season started this weekend.
The ambulance will replace one of the service's two Chevrolets, which station manager Don McMillan said would probably be sold.
The community raised $85,000 for the vehicle, with the balance coming from 16 organisations, including the Treble Cone and Cardrona skifields, the Herbert family, the Best of the Best Show, Wanaka Golf Club, Wanaka Probus, and Allenby Farms.
Wanaka area committee chairman Phill Hunt thanked the community for helping St John achieve its fundraising target in 12 months.
"Many people outside our area thought we were being too ambitious but here we are... I believe the support we have received is testament to the high regard [in which] our personnel is held," Mr Hunt said.
Area committee member and tutor Ian Rae said Wanaka's cadet scheme was popular with the district's children.
There are 45 cadet volunteers aged 6-18 years in the youth division and a waiting list of 15, Mr Rae said.
