Man who died following Waiouru helicopter crash was Hawke's Bay businessman Renata 'Ren' Apatu

Friday, 15 June 2018

Renata Apatu was co-owner of Ngamatea Station.

The man who died following a helicopter crash near Waiouru is believed to be Hawke's Bay businessman Renata 'Ren' Apatu.

He was one of five people on board, when the chopper crashed about 35km northeast of Waiouru on private land in the Kaweka Ranges.

Renata Apatu meets Prince Charles during his visit to New Zealand in 2016.

On Friday afternoon, Hawke's Bay District Health Board issued a statement on behalf of family.

'He was a hugely loved husband, father and brother, and much loved by all his wider family and friends. His death is a tragic loss not only to his family but the wider farming community, and to all those who knew and loved him.'

The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Service along with Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter and Greenlea Rescue Helicopter responded to Ngamatea Station in the Kaweka Ranges to a helicopter crash on Thursday morning.

Apatu was a co-owner of the 28,000-hectare Ngamatea Station, which is popular with deer hunters and trout fishers.

Two other men remain in Hawke's Bay Hospital in a serious but stable condition, after the commercial helicopter with five men on board crashed on Thursday morning.

Two other men, one in his 30s and one is 40s, were assessed by St John paramedics after they were flown by rescue helicopter to Hastings' Bridge Pa airfield, but did not need hospital treatment.

The crash happened shortly before 9am on Thursday on private land in the Kaweka Ranges – about 35 kilometres northeast of Waiouru.

The helicopter had been doing a commercial survey operation in the area, and went down in steep hilly and tussock-clad land, a long way from roads.