Latest news with #TararuaRanges
RNZ News
09-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Tramper and dog winched to safety from freezing Tararua Ranges
The Royal New Zealand Air Force deployed a helicopter to rescue a freezing tramper and his dog in the Tararua Ranges north of Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Supplied A personal locator beacon has helped a near-hypothermic tramper and his dog be rescued from freezing conditions in the Tararua Ranges. On Monday Wellington man David Graham, an experienced tramper, and his Kelpie, Winnie, were on the second night of a tramp heading toward the Mid-King Bivvy, when the weather closed in with thick cloud reducing visibility to less than 20 metres. Unable to find shelter Graham and his dog settled under a large rock, which had icicles hanging off it that would provide water if needed. Graham said he'd since been told a hut in the area was notoriously difficult to find because the track had overgrown. By 9pm the cloud had lifted, bringing dew down and freezing Graham's sleeping bag. He then called emergency services and also set off his personal locator beacon. A Defence Force spokesperson said it was initially decided a Land Search and Rescue team would walk in the next day, but at 2am Graham contacted police again concerned about his health should rain set in. Winnie the Kelpie dog before she and her owner, Wellington tramper David Graham were rescued from the Tararua Ranges on Tuesday morning. Photo: RNZ / Supplied An NH90 helicopter from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base in Ohakea left for the Tararua Ranges by 4am on Tuesday. "The next thing I heard, it was about 4.30am, the chopper coming through," Graham said. Graham and his dog were winched into the chopper. "They took Winnie up first, which was lovely. They were very thoughtful and brought a specific bag for the dog," he said. "As soon as I got in the chopper I was given the best hot chocolate I've ever had in my life. They gave me a Crunchie bar and put a heated pack down my front." For medic Corporal Sam Wardhaugh, it was his first time winching in a search and rescue mission after gaining his qualification a week earlier. No.3 Squadron NH90 pilot, Squadron Leader Andrew Stewart, said Graham had done the right thing by taking a personal locator beacon with him, as it had meant they were able to fly almost directly to him. "When we arrived he shone his torch so we could see him easily," Stewart said. Stewart said the terrain was steep with bluffs directly below where Graham was with thick low cloud sitting on the eastern side of the ranges. "The temperature was pretty much on freezing - it was 0.5 degrees Celsius when we were up there where he was." After landing, Graham was assessed by medics who found early symptoms of hypothermia had begun to affect his feet. Following the rescue Graham said was was looking forward to being reunited with his wife and baby. "I was pretty tired, but I really appreciated all the expertise from everyone. I can't imagine all the complexities of pulling together something like that at 4am." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
02-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Person suffering from serious injuries after animal attack
File image of a Rongotea organic milk farm looking out towards the Tararua Ranges in the Manawatū. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson One person has suffered serious injuries after being attacked by an unspecified animal in the lower North Island. Police said they were called to an animal attack at about 2.15pm on Monday on Makino Road, a rural road in Manawatū north of Feilding. "The victim has sustained serious injuries and will be transported by ambulance to Hospital. The animal has been destroyed." Hato Hone St John confirmed crews responded to a 'farm incident' in Halcombe with one ambulance, one rapid response unit, and one manager. A St John spokesperson said one person in a serious condition was treated and transported to Palmerston North Hospital. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
