Bay of Plenty hunters and trampers are being warned to be prepared before heading outdoors after an incident in the region which led to a hunter having to be rescued via helicopter.

There have recently been several incidents in New Zealand which led to hunters or trampers needing to be rescued.

Hunters and trampers are being asked to be prepared before heading outdoors.

The Bay of Plenty Police Search and Rescue squad were also involved in several rescues earlier this year.

The first involved the squad retrieving a Whakatane man on April 9.

Detective John Wilson says the man was airlifted to Rotorua after an associate was lost and had set off his distress beacon.

'Police SAR were called on to interview the man, with gathering information about his missing companion vital to the next step in the search procedure, which occurred the following day.

'This resulted in the lost man being found early the next morning.”

The same day as the second hunter was rescued, squad members were called to recover the body of a 55-year-old woman from Te Urewera National Park, near Ruatahuna.

'The woman had collapsed and passed away the previous evening.

'The remoteness of the location meant that she needed to be recovered with the use of a helicopter.”

On Wednesday, April 11, another distress beacon was set off, this time in an area north of Ruatahuna, co-incidentally near where the body had been recovered the previous day.

John says a rescue helicopter from the Hawkes Bay located a hunter who had become lost the previous day and had set off his beacon.

He was airlifted to Murupara.

'This hunter's companion, nor the camp where they had been staying, was able to be located at this time. Although the remaining hunter would have been aware his companion had failed to return to camp, he could not have known he had subsequently been rescued.

'Because of their local knowledge of the area, squad members were tasked with locating the hunter's camp, and evacuating the remaining hunter from the bush.”
John says this involved some particularly challenging flying, as the pair had elected to erect their camp site in the middle of the helipad.

'Police are pleased with the foresight shown by these people in going into the bush well prepared, and of not being afraid to ask for help when they needed it.

'These examples highlight the importance of following the Outdoor Safety Code.”

NZ Mountain Safety Council chief executive Darryl Carpenter reiterates that people have a better chance of a successful trip if they follow the Outdoor Safety Code and plan a trip well.

Some key points for hunters include:
• Planning the trip.
• Telling someone where you are going and when you will return, so they know when to raise the alarm.
• Be aware of the weather.
• Know your limits.
• Take sufficient supplies. (This includes food, clothing to cover all eventualities, and a means of communication.)