The newest addition to Tauranga St John can't be missed when driving down the street.

The new yellow and green St John Ambulance has been donated to the medical organisation by Tauranga Roundtable.

St John district operations manager Jeremy Gooders with Tauranga Roundtable president Phil Hunt and member Hamish Ashton with the donated ambulance. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

It cost more than $100,000 and took 10-15 years for the Roundtable to raise the money. But there have been other donations to community groups along the way.

It's the single biggest project Tauranga Roundtable's current membership of six have been involved in, says Roundtable president Phil Hunt.

'It's not about the money you know, it's about this,” Phil says pointing to the brand new yellow and green ambulance parked in the St Jon Ambulance building in 17th Ave.

'It's really about the resource. It's pretty hard to put a dollar value on a resource.”

There was quite a bit of discussion about taking on the ambulance funding, says Phil. It is the life of the ambulance that was a deciding factor.

'It's going to be in the area for the next eight to ten years,” says Phil.

'What we always endeavour to do is put it back in the community in the best way we possibly can.”

The gifted ambulance was officially accepted by Norm Harris representing the Order of St John, and dedicated by the chaplain the Rev Jim Wallace.

'…watch over all who travel in it, the sick the injured and those who minister to them. May the dying be comforted and the sick speedily recover health and strength and give thanks for the care received,” says Jim's prayer.