Two killed in helicopter crash north of Wellington
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
Two people have died in a helicopter crash in the Paekākāriki Hill area north of Wellington.
Police said they were notified of the crash via an automated crash notification system area around 7.30am on Wednesday.
“Tragically, both the pilot and the sole passenger were located deceased following the crash,” Inspector Renée Perkins said on Wednesday afternoon. “Our thoughts are with their families at this time.”
Work was ongoing to recover the deceased and to examine the crash scene, which would be done in conjunction with investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority, Perkins said.
A witness, who told RNZ they were working nearby, said they were first on the scene and checked the vital signs of one of the people in the helicopter, but they were dead.
The witness said another person was located some distance from the “unrecognisable” wreckage of the helicopter in thick scrub.
Emergency services remain at the scene of the crash, with two rescue helicopters supported by police and Fire and Emergency NZ.
A Stuff reporter at the scene said police had closed the entrance to Battle Hill Forest Park — a popular camping and walking area — and were preventing vehicles and pedestrians from entering or leaving.
Carloads of day walkers were being turned away, while campers already inside the park were seen stopping to watch helicopters circling overhead.
The helicopters that had been searching earlier were on the ground by midday. A police off-road vehicle had entered the park, while three Fire and Emergency trucks waited near the entrance.
A neighbour told Stuff she had been in the area earlier in the morning but heard nothing unusual until helicopters began flying overhead.
The Civil Aviation Authority said it would make initial enquiries to understand what happened and determine whether any further action was needed.
Ōtaki MP Tim Costley, a former Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopter pilot, shared reports of the crash and said he was hoping for the best possible outcome.
Airways, which manages air navigation across New Zealand, said it was aware of the crash and was providing support to emergency services as requested. Porirua City Council said it was aware of the incident but there were no impacts on council services.
Police thanked the partner agencies who assisted in the response on Wednesday morning, including: Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Civil Aviation Authority and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
The area has been the site of previous fatal aviation incidents. On Anzac Day in 2010, three people died when an Air Force helicopter crashed in nearby Pukerua Bay. A year earlier, a helicopter and light plane collided over Kapiti Rd, killing three people, and in 2017 a helicopter crashed into Pauatahanui Inlet after the pilot lost control.