Jock Davies named as man who died while hunting on Stewart Island

RNZ News

08-07-2025

Jock Davies.
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Police have formally named Jock Davies as the man who died while hunting on Stewart Island.
The 21-year-old from Tapanui died near Lords River on 5 July.
A search and rescue team was sent to the island but Davies was found dead.
Police were investigating, including include speaking to people who were in the area at the time.
Family and friends had posted tributes on social media, including his brother Tom Davies who said he was "dearly loved and always will be".
A Child Cancer Foundation article published five years ago described how west Otago rallied around the family in 2013 and again in 2018 as Jock Davies had treatment for leukaemia and a bone marrow transplant.
Back then Davies had celebrated his two-year post-transplant anniversary and was enjoying a "sporty, outdoorsy life just as every 16-year-old boy should be".
Mountain Safety Council chief executive Mike Daisley said Davies' death would be felt far and wide among the country's hunters.
Deerstalkers Association chief executive Gwyn Thurlow said fatal hunting accidents in New Zealand were rare.
"Our hearts go out to the family and the people involved in this tragedy. It's just so sad that it's it's happened to such a young person," he said.
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