MAS and Hato Hone St John are united by a shared purpose, helping New Zealanders protect what matters and supporting healthier communities across Aotearoa. That's why we're proud to sponsor these life-saving initiatives with Hato Hone St John.
Here's how our partnership is making life better for all New Zealanders.
3 Steps for Life
Call 111, start CPR, use a defibrillator
When someone goes into cardiac arrest, every second counts. It could happen to anyone, anywhere – your mum, your mate, your neighbour. Knowing what to do in those first few minutes can be the difference between life and death. That’s why we're supporting Hato Hone St John in making lifesaving skills and technology more accessible to everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand.
3 Steps for Life is a free, one-hour CPR and defibrillator education session backed by MAS, giving Kiwi the confidence and skills to act quickly in the event of a cardiac arrest.
Learn more about the programme, why those first minutes matter, and what to expect from a free 3 Steps for Life workshop
Shocktober 2026
This October, learn CPR for your loved one
Shocktober is an annual CPR and defibrillator awareness campaign that runs throughout the month of October, encouraging Kiwi to learn the skills they might need to save a life.
Over 11,000 people attended a 3 Steps for Life session in Shocktober 2025. This year, we're aiming to deliver 3 Steps for Life sessions to over 17,000 people around Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as running Save Your Teddy sessions with 10,000 tamariki.
Community defibrillators
Increasing access to life-saving medical technology
Defibrillators (also known as AEDs) are small devices that give a safe electric shock to someone having a sudden cardiac arrest, increasing their chance of survival by 44 percent.
In partnership with Hato Hone St John, we've provided 2 publicly accessible defibrillators to under-served communities around Aotearoa.
Bridging the gender gap
Improving cardiac arrest survival rates for women
The Hato Hone St John Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Report for 2024/25 found that women have a 60% lower chance of receiving life-saving defibrillation from a bystander in the case of a cardiac arrest in the community, signficantly reducing their chance of survival.
Most education materials and manikins used in training are currently modelled on male anatomy, which likely leads to more hesitation in the critical moments that can save a life. In 2026, we donated 4 sets of 4 female manikins to be used in 3 Steps for Life training sessions around the country, improving healthcare for our wāhine.
LifeBeat Mini Defibrillator
Bringing life-saving equipment closer to communities
The St John LifeBeat Mini Defibrillator is the smallest and lightest defibrillator currently available, making lifesaving technology more accessible than ever before. It's easy to use, portable, and reliable, giving anyone the confidence to respond quickly in a sudden cardiac arrest emergency.
As part of our partnership with Hato Hone St John, every MAS Adviser fleet vehicle is being equipped with a St John LifeBeat Mini defibrillator - extending access to lifesaving equipment in the communities they visit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Hato Hone St John?
Hato Hone St John is a charitable organisation helping to build strong, resilient communities and supporting everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand to live healthier, happier, and longer lives. They provide ambulance services around the country, first aid training, medical alarms, and more.
As part of the international Order of St John dating back nearly a millennium, St John was first established in Aotearoa New Zealand in Christchurch in 1885. Since then, they have continually expanded and improved their offerings and reach to improve healthcare outcomes for Kiwi around the country.
What does Hato Hone mean?
'Hato Hone' is a direct Te Reo Māori translation of 'St John' - 'Hato' meaning 'Saint' and 'Hone' meaning 'John'. The name was officially adopted in late 2022 to better reflect the communities they work with and the culture and language that makes Aotearoa New Zealand unique.
How do I pronounce Hato Hone?
Check out Māori Dictionary to hear how each word is pronounced and learn more about its meaning. In English, its rough pronounciation is 'Hah-tor Hoar-nair'.
What is 3 Steps for Life?
3 Steps for Life is a free one-hour training session providing lifesaving skills and confidence to help if someone has a cardiac arrest in your community. The sessions cover how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator in an emergency. Anyone can attend a session for free, though any koha is appreciated.
Want to learn more?
Check out these related pages
MAS partners with Hato Hone St John to help more Kiwi save lives
28 July 2025 - MAS is proud to announce a new partnership with Hato Hone St John, as the major sponsor of their life-saving 3 Steps for Life programme.
Her heart matters: Disparities in women's heart health
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Kiwi women. But in the event of a cardiac arrest, women are less likely to receive bystander CPR.
Learn the 3 Steps for Life with Hato Hone St John
Hato Hone St John free 3 Steps for Life programme, sponsored by MAS, is helping save lives across the country by teaching everyday Kiwis how to respond with confidence when confronted with cardiac arrest.