New Zealand has triumphed in competitions held as part of the St John International Youth Festival at Lincoln University, near Christchurch.

St John Friends of the Emergency Department celebrated five years of volunteering at Waitakere Hospital on Monday 1 February 2010.

More than 400 young St John members from New Zealand and around the world are coming to Christchurch for a week of fun, education and excitement, as St John New Zealand this year hosts the St John International Youth Festival from 25-31 January.

A Nelson-based company proudly showed off its skill and hard work this week, when a replica of a horse-drawn St John ambulance was taken for a test drive.

• 34 new paid St John ambulance officers are joining the front line this month. • Another 51 new paid St John ambulance officers will start work between January and June 2010.

St John and Marker have released a free iPhone application which could help you save a life. This CPR application is the first developed for the New Zealand environment.

Whangarei resident Dyan Manning recently completed a St John CPR course and passed on the knowledge to her family. Two days later, her daughter put the skills into practice and saved her newborn baby’s life.

The recent purchase of property in Hillside Road, Dunedin will see an additional St John ambulance station open in early 2010.

November 5 marks eight years since the Friends of the Emergency Department pilot scheme commenced at Auckland Hospital with just seven volunteers. Now, more than 800 Friends of the Emergency Department volunteer at 18 hospitals throughout New Zealand.

St John first responders are preparing to give first aid support at the adidas Auckland Marathon on 1 November 2009.