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Otago Daily Times
21-07-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
'Devastating implications': Dead stoat found on Stewart Is
Mystery surrounds the "concerning" discovery of a dead stoat with a crushed skull in the middle of a popular Rakiura/Stewart Island track. Stewart Island is known to be stoat-free with the nearest population of the predator 30kms across Foveaux Strait. The Department of Conservation says stoats can only swim 2km and they are not known to stow away on vessels. "This stoat has died from a head injury then mysteriously turned up on a busy walking track," Doc southern South Island operations director Aaron Fleming said. A member of the public walking on the Rakiura Great Walk Track reported the dead stoat on July 12. The stoat's skull was crushed indicating it had died instantaneously from either a trap or similar blunt force prior to being found on the track. "We need to know if we are dealing with a new significant threat to Rakiura's native species, or if this stoat has been transported from elsewhere and planted deliberately. Both scenarios are disturbing. We are taking this seriously," Mr Fleming said. The dead stoat has been sent to an expert to see what further information can be obtained. Samples are being sent for genetic testing to try to determine where it has come from. Mr Fleming said it would have "devastating implications" for native wildlife if stoats took hold on the island. "In other places in New Zealand where there are stoats, kiwi chick survival can be as low as zero without sustained pest control. Imagine the damage stoats could do on Rakiura, which is known for its tokoeka or southern brown kiwi population." "If stoats were to establish on Rakiura they would threaten efforts to create a predator-free space for kākāpō to be returned, and they would quickly decimate other native species on the island." The Predator Free Rakiura project is currently working on the removal of Rakiura's existing pest species – rats, possums, feral cats and hedgehogs – in one of the largest and most complex predator eradication projects ever attempted on an inhabited island. Introducing pests such as stoats constitutes an offence in New Zealand, with serious consequences and penalties including imprisonment of up to five years and significant fines. Anyone with information about the dead stoat's origins is encouraged to contact DOC 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).
RNZ News
21-07-2025
- RNZ News
Unexplained discovery of dead stoat on Stewart Island sparks investigation
File photo. Photo: 123RF The Department of Conservation is investigating the unexplained discovery of a dead stoat on Stewart Island. Rakiura is known to be stoat-free with the nearest population 30 kilometres away across the Foveaux Strait. The dead stoat was found on the Rakiura Great Walk Track earlier this month with its skull crushed either from a trap or similar blunt force. The department's Southern South Island Director of Operations, Aaron Fleming, said a stoat's swimming range was two kilometres and they were not known to stowaway on boats. "This stoat has died from a head injury then mysteriously turned up on a busy walking track," Fleming said. "We need to know if we are dealing with a new significant threat to Rakiura's native species, or if this stoat has been transported from elsewhere and planted deliberately. "Both scenarios are disturbing. We are taking this seriously." Genetic testing was underway to try to work out where the stoat had come from. The department is asking anyone with information to come forward. Fleming said stoats would have devastating impacts on the native wildlife if they established a population on Rakiura, threatening the efforts to create a predator-free space for kākāpō to be returned. "In other places in New Zealand where there are stoats, kiwi chick survival can be as low as zero without sustained pest control," he said. "Imagine the damage stoats could do on Rakiura, which is known for its tokoeka or southern brown kiwi population." A predator free project is working to eradicate all of the island's existing pest species, which include rats, possums, feral cats and hedgehogs. Introducing pests including stoats is illegal and penalties include up to five years imprisonment and significant fines. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Global News
11-07-2025
- Health
- Global News
HALO Air Ambulance expands fleet of helicopters
For years, HALO Air Ambulance has been a lifesaving service in the skies above southern Alberta. It's a resource nobody wants to use, but when they do need it, it's the most welcome sight in the world. 'Very grateful and will always be grateful for HALO and what they've done for my family,' said Aaron Fleming, whose daughter was rescued by a HALO crew in 2020 when on a ski trip in Elkwater. '(HALO made sure) that we were able to continue planning family vacations rather than a family funeral.' He says his daughter, who was 16 years old at the time, hit a tree when on the slopes and, if it wasn't for HALO, things would have turned out drastically different. 'She would have died if it wasn't for HALO.' Story continues below advertisement His daughter's rescue came during a rough year for the air ambulance as they were on the brink of shutting down entirely. 'In 2020, when the announcement was that they would potentially have to close their doors due to no funding, it was something that tugged at my heartstrings,' said Fleming. He had, earlier in the year, made a significant donation to HALO, believing it was too valuable of a resource to risk losing, but when HALO needed him, he and his family needed them. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'HALO saved her life when we were trying to save HALO.' Now, five years after the organization was nearly grounded for good, HALO Air Ambulance has doubled its fleet with the addition of a new helicopter. View image in full screen HALO-1 is the newest addition to the HALO Air Ambulance fleet of helicopters. Jordan Prentice/Global News 'It's a BK 117, which is the same helicopter we've been flying for years (but) it has bigger engines, so more performance,' said Paul Carolan, CEO of HALO. Story continues below advertisement He says being able to move as the crow flies, avoiding roads while cruising at over 250 km/h makes a huge difference when seconds can be vital to saving a life. 'In a perfect world, we would never fly, but that's not the world we live in. We do live in remote and rural Alberta and we don't have all the resources that the big centres have, so this is the way that we can get people where they need to go as quickly as possible,' said Carolan. The new machine is a serious improvement for HALO, especially when operating in the arid summer conditions around Medicine Hat. 'It doesn't fly any faster or any higher, but in hot temperatures or with heavy loads, it gives us better performance for landing on scene and landing at hospitals.' It's more than just being an air ambulance, however, as HALO's range also keeps community paramedics in their towns for future emergencies. 'When that call comes in, we can get those advance care paramedics to the person and that has a byproduct of leaving that community paramedic in that community. Now, instead of having a long transport time to Medicine Hat, Lethbridge or Calgary, we land on scene, work with that team, take the patient and get them where they need to go but that paramedic and that ambulance stay in their community. So, if another call comes in, now you still have that resource.' Story continues below advertisement The new helicopter is going to take the name of HALO-1, becoming the primary ambulance for the team. Meanwhile, the older HALO-2 will be used as a backup if maintenance is required on HALO-1. View image in full screen HALO-2 is the older aircraft with HALO Air Ambulance. Jordan Prentice/Global News Completing its first emergency call on June 29 in the Bow Island area, HALO-1 has officially entered the service. 'We can be there when the call comes in and truthfully, that's all that matters,' said Carolan.
