Two separate fundraising campaigns are gearing up to support the south's rescue helicopters after last week's incredible tale of survival in the sub-Antarctic Islands.

Westpac's annual May Chopper Appeal has kicked off only a week after three Te Anau men survived a helicopter crash in the sub-Antarctic islands last week. 

In addition, and in direct response to the crash, the Rotary Club of Fiordland will host a dinner next week to raise funds to replace equipment lost.

Westpac's nationwide fundraiser will be the first to follow a significant change last November to how air rescue services are co-ordinated in the south.

Lakes District Air Rescue Trust (LDART) chairman Jules Tapper said the money raised locally from the appeal would stay in the region; it would be a vital part of 

the money the trust needed to raise to maintain air rescue services in the Southern Lakes region.

Community funding supported the short-funded section of the service, which was now split between two different operations and cost "a heap more" than the previous model.

In November, the government consolidated medical calls through ACC and the Ministry of Health into one South Island-wide contract with HEMS, a joint venture between Helicopters Otago Limited and GCH Aviation Limited in Christchurch.

That meant southern medical calls were responded to through a new permanently dedicated twin-engine service through Queenstown. Meanwhile, Police and Rescue Co-ordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) missions in the Southland region were handled separately through their own arrangements with Southern Lakes Helicopters in Te Anau. 

"We're going to have to raise somewhere in the order this year of around half a million bucks to support both HEMS and Sir Richard's [Hayes] operations," Mr Tapper said.

With the changes, Mr Tapper said it was important the community understood how much their support was needed. 

"Get the gorse out of your pockets, and support your service because without it, it's not going to happen," Mr Tapper said. 

On the local level, the Rotary Club of Fiordland will be organising a dinner and silent auction on May 11 at the Te Anau Club to help replace the equipment lost by St John, LDART, and Southern Lakes Helicopters in the recent helicopter crash.

When club secretary Sarah Greaney learned about the equipment that had been lost, it seemed like the right cause this time around for the club's regular fundraising dinners.

"That's essentially where the idea came from. Why don't we look at what we can do to help replace whatever equipment they need replacing?"

Rugby player and international mountain climber Brian Dagg of Coronet Peak Station will be speaking, and the event will also feature a silent fundraising auction. 

The 15th annual Westpac Chopper Appeal will run throughout May, with a nationwide street appeal on Thursday, May 9. The next day on May 10, cyclists will take on the 235-km bike ride from Queenstown to Invercargill for the 9th annual chopper appeal bike ride for LDART.

The Rotary Club of Fiordland's fundraising dinner is May 11 at the Te Anau Club starting at 6pm. Tickets are $50 per person or $400 for a table of eight, and are available through H&J Smith, Fiordland Electrical, or any Fiordland Rotary Club member.