Crimeline: Lake Hayes fire, jetboat incident and more

Fire and Emergency NZ investigators want to speak to three teenagers who were seen in the vicinity of Sunday’s large scrub fire on the hillside near Lakes Hayes Estate, Shotover Country and Kawarau Heights.

Fire and Emergency Otago Lakes Group assistant commander Nic McQuillan says they’re working with a witness who was in the area at the time the fire started, shortly after 3pm.

“We can’t say for sure what it was so we’re still investigating the cause, and we want to talk to these three youths,” he says. “We will talk to Police later this week to get their involvement if that’s appropriate. We’re hoping these three teens in the area will reach out to us.”

He could not comment on social media comments that there had allegedly been teenagers in the area smoking bongs just prior to the fire breaking out.

The fire took hold of (point).7ha (260sqm perimeter) of very dry vegetation and due to the swift action of fire crews who rushed to the scene from Frankton, Queenstown and Arrowtown, houses in the nearby subdivisions were not endangered, McQuillan says.

“However, if we hadn’t managed it right and had the resources that we did in there quickly there was absolutely a chance of risk to properties,” McQuillan says. Around 25 firefighters were on scene within minutes, tackling the fire with 15 hoses.

He's urging people using any machinery like grinders or lawnmowers, or discarding cigarette butts and the likes, to exercise extreme caution. “We’re still in a prohibited fire season and despite the rain the other night that’s made little difference and the risk is very high.”

Frankton, Queenstown and Arrowtown Brigades were called to a similar sized fire at Drift Bay, about 3kms to 4kms from Jack’s Point, the previous night (Saturday, February 22) just after 9pm. FENZ is investigating the cause of that fire.

One Queenstown fire truck also attended a smaller scrub fire at the Sunshine Bay Reserve on Tuesday night (February 25).

“We’re getting increased calls now due to the dryness and people need to be very careful,” McQuillan says.

Arrowtown Rural Fire Units are currently being sent to all vegetation fire callouts as a precaution because of the high risk at present.

Jetboat accident investigated at Skippers

Maritime NZ has begun an investigation into a commercial jetboat accident in the Skippers Canyon late afternoon on Tuesday (February 25) in which four people were injured, two flown to Dunedin Hospital with moderate injuries.

A St John Ambulance spokesperson says they were called just after 5pm and four patients were assessed at the scene with the other two in a minor condition.

Otago Southland Rescue Helicopters’ Graeme Gale says they initially sent two helicopters to the scene at 5:12pm with a third requested, however, the third was later stood down.

No comment is being made on what happened while investigations are underway.

The owner of long-time family-owned business, Skippers Canyon Jet, which has operated commercially in the canyon for many years, could not be contacted for comment yesterday. However, it’s understood that a company jetboat may have collided with rocks after a possible power failure.

A Maritime NZ spokesperson says an investigator started work yesterday (Wednesday, 26 February) to understand what happened.

“This involves talking to the operator, reviewing information relating to the vessel, talking to the people involved and seeking other information as required,” he says. This process can take up to several months.

“As the matter is under investigation, we’re not in a position to talk about what occurred, or what may have caused the issue with the vessel.”

Queenstown Lakes District Council waterways regulatory services manager Craig Fahey says he believed the operator, post-accident, had followed all the correct protocols in communicating with Maritime NZ and the harbourmaster through the correct channels.

Woman dies in Brewster fall

The Coroner will investigate the death of a woman who died after a fatal fall tramping from the Brewster Hut to the Brewster Glacier in Mount Aspiring National Park about 7pm on Friday, 20 February. A Police spokesperson says the woman had been attempting to make her way

across exposed and difficult terrain and fell several metres. “The incident happened after she, along with one other, left Brewster Hut to reach the Glacier fields,” he says.

“The woman was sadly located deceased, and her death has been referred to the Coroner.”

In May last year Police and Search and Rescue volunteers warned of potentially catastrophic outcomes and loss of life after a number of close call rescues on the Brewster Glacier trek with unprepared visitors unaware of the hazardous terrain.

Multiple rescues had been undertaken and Police and rescuers said then that the social media lure of stunning views failed to point out the advanced, steep terrain and hard to access glacier, and to highlight the dangers.

Stranger cops punch to the head

A 24-year-old local man who’d been denied entry to a bar was arrested after allegedly approaching another man, unknown to him, and punching him in the head at 1.25am in Queenstown Mall on Friday (21 February). Constable Amanda Shute says the victim suffered bruising and a small cut above his eye. The offending male, who was restrained by security staff until Police arrived, was remanded on bail in the Queenstown District Court on Monday (24 February) to reappear on 7 April.

62-year-old man remanded in custody for intentional damage

A 62-year-old man has been remanded in custody in the Queenstown District Court after being charged with intentionally damaging a window at The Gift Centre in Beach Street just before 2am on Thursday. Shute says the man was allegedly observed attempting to break a window in the store with his elbow.

“After failing to do so he walked away returning a short time later with a beer keg and allegedly used that to smash the window causing it to shatter,” she says. The man will reappear in court on 12 March.

Drink driving female tourist

A 32-year-old female tourist has been charged with careless driving and Police are awaiting alcohol blood test results after she was allegedly observed overtaking on double yellow lines on several occasions along Frankton-Ladies Mile and driving the wrong way down a street under construction. The woman was breath tested just before 6pm on Saturday after Police received a complaint from a member of the public about her driving, but she then requested a blood test. She will appear in the Queenstown District Court tomorrow (February 28).

Motorcyclist injured after avoiding vehicle

A motorcycle rider suffered a broken shoulder, arm and wrist after flying over his handlebars when he had to brake abruptly to avoid a vehicle turning into a rest bay in front of him near Little Stony Creek on the Glenorchy Road at 4.45pm on Tuesday (25 February). Shute says the vehicle was allegedly turning right into a rest bay in front of the motorcycle.

Heli-rescues in the hills

The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter and St John were busy retrieving patients from Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks, Mount Pisa and Cardrona from Sunday until Tuesday evening, all airlifted to Lakes District Hospital, one in a moderate condition, one minor, and the other conditions unknown.