A union hopes Thursday's Budget will fix longstanding issues with St John's resourcing.

A Coroner suggests the ambulance service lobby the Government for more funding after an Auckland man watched his wife die despite calling 111 five times.

First Union national organiser Faye McCann told Mike Hosking the crucial service should be fully funded by the Government — and not have to be a charity.

“Year on year we seem to find ourselves in the same situation where St John makes the agreement with the Government as to exactly what they’re going to receive with the funding, and then we’re in a situation where we’re in financial strife again.”

LISTEN ABOVE

• Lack of public funding becoming a major problem for first responders