Tragedy North of Wellington: Two Dead After Helicopter Crashes During Goat Culling Mission
By Lions Roar Aotearoa Emergency Desk
PAEKĀKĀRIKI HILL, NEW ZEALAND (Wednesday, January 28, 2026) — A somber scene has unfolded north of the capital today as authorities confirm that two people—the pilot and a sole passenger—have died following a helicopter crash in the rugged Paekākāriki Hill area.
Emergency services were alerted to the disaster at 7:30 AM this morning by an automated crash notification. The wreckage was discovered on steep, challenging terrain near the Battle Hill Farm Forest Park, an area notorious for its difficult access and thick scrub.
🚁 The Recovery Mission
Police Inspector Renée Perkins confirmed the fatalities this afternoon. The recovery effort has been hampered by the remote location and the condition of the aircraft.
- “Unrecognisable” Wreckage: A witness with 27 years of search and rescue experience was among the first on the scene. He described finding the wreckage in a state that made the aircraft nearly unidentifiable.
- Leaking Fuel: The witness reported that the helicopter’s engine systems were still active upon discovery, with fuel leaking into the scrub. For safety reasons, rescuers had to move back until the site could be secured.
- Scattered Victims: While one victim was found within the wreckage, the second was located some distance away in dense vegetation on a vertical slope.
🐐 Mission: Goat Culling
It is understood the helicopter was engaged in goat culling operations in the hills at the time of the accident. These missions often require low-altitude flying over precarious terrain, though the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The newly appointed Police Assistant Commissioner Corrie Parnell has arrived on-site to oversee the multi-agency response, which includes the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ), and Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre.
📊 Incident Details: Paekākāriki Helicopter Crash
| Feature | Details |
| Time of Alert | 7:30 AM, Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026 |
| Location | Paekākāriki Hill / Battle Hill area, north of Wellington |
| Casualties | 2 Deceased (Pilot and Passenger) |
| Operation Type | Aerial Goat Culling |
| Investigation | Police and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) |
| Terrain Status | Steep, thick scrub; access by ATVs and rope rescue teams |
🧗 Challenging Terrain and Rescue Efforts
Fire and Emergency dispatched two crews from Porirua, including a specialized “line rescue team” trained in high-angle vertical rescues. Park rangers and teams on ATVs are currently working to clear access paths to allow for the respectful removal of the victims.
The crash site is near Pukerua Bay, a location with a haunting aviation history; it is close to where an Air Force helicopter crashed on Anzac Day in 2010, claiming three lives.
