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Chopper and Frank – The Rescue Dogs, is a children’s books series fundraising for the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust (EHRT)
The series started in September 2025 with the launch of “An East Coast Mission” and a second book “A Mahia Mission” was released in April 2026.
The books have been produced by Charteris Choppers with a donation of $5 going back to the EHRT from each sale.
Book author Sarah Charteris owns and operates the business with her husband Blake and was inspired to write the books after Cyclone Gabrielle. The characters are based on real-life German Short Haired Pointers, Chopper and Frank, who are an integral part of their helicopter team.
With teamwork, Chopper’s wise skill and a touch of Frank’s signature clumsiness, the stories capture the excitement and importance of rescue helicopter missions. They include important messages about safety preparedness and are bright, fun and engaging stories for young readers.
The books have been produced by Charteris Choppers with a donation of $5 going back to the EHRT from each sale.
Book author Sarah Charteris owns and operates the business with her husband Blake and was inspired to write the books after Cyclone Gabrielle. The characters are based on real-life German Short Haired Pointers, Chopper and Frank, who are an integral part of their helicopter team.
With teamwork, Chopper’s wise skill and a touch of Frank’s signature clumsiness, the stories capture the excitement and importance of rescue helicopter missions. They include important messages about safety preparedness and are bright, fun and engaging stories for young readers.
About Chopper and FrankChopper and Frank – The Rescue Dogs is based on real life German Short Haired Pointers, Frank and the late Chopper. The father and son duo have become synonymous with Charteris Choppers and are always part of the action. For years they have been greeting visitors to the company’s hangar and peeing on their tyres, cruising on the back of work utes, or enjoying a sneaky ride in the helicopter when allowed. Sarah Charteris, who owns and operates Charteris Choppers with her husband Blake, has long been fascinated by the unique roles that Chopper and Frank play within their team. With a background in writing, she started thinking what lovely characters they would make for a children’s book
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Bringing Chopper and Frank to life in support of a wonderful cause.With a shared love of helicopters, in 2025 Sarah approached the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust (EHRT) to see what they thought about aligning her book idea with the wonderful work that they do. The vision was to not only sell books as a fundraiser but also enable the EHRT to gift them to every patient in their helicopter.
“An East Coast Mission” was launched in September 2025, at the EHRT’s annual auction night. Charteris Choppers donated 50 books to be auctioned off, raising $5,500. An additional 200 books were also sold that night, with $2 from every sale being gifted back to the EHRT. By Christmas they had reached their goal of selling over 1000 books and its popularity led to the creation of second book – A Mahia Mission. |
Would you like to gift books to your community?
The book is such a unique, meaningful and long-lasting way to give back to your community.
With the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust (EHRT) doing close to 500 missions last year, we are looking for more books to be donated as gifts for patients in the helicopter.
If you would like to purchase and donate at least 50 books, you will get your name or logo printed in a special run of the books, acknowledging your kind donation. EHRT will also be gifted $5 from each book purchased.
Do you have another organisation in mind to donate to instead? Maybe to all the school libraries in the district, to the maternity ward for each baby born, or planet sunshine for young patients to take home…the options are endless for how you can help share the adventures of Chopper and Frank in support of a vital community service.
With the Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust (EHRT) doing close to 500 missions last year, we are looking for more books to be donated as gifts for patients in the helicopter.
If you would like to purchase and donate at least 50 books, you will get your name or logo printed in a special run of the books, acknowledging your kind donation. EHRT will also be gifted $5 from each book purchased.
Do you have another organisation in mind to donate to instead? Maybe to all the school libraries in the district, to the maternity ward for each baby born, or planet sunshine for young patients to take home…the options are endless for how you can help share the adventures of Chopper and Frank in support of a vital community service.
Where to get the books?
You can order online at www.chopperandfrank.co.nz
Books are also stoked locally throughout Wairoa and Gisborne so please contact [email protected] to find out current stockists.
Books are also stoked locally throughout Wairoa and Gisborne so please contact [email protected] to find out current stockists.
If you are interested in making a bulk order to either donate back to the Eastland Rescue Helicopter Trust, or to another community organisation, please contact us direct on [email protected]