Police have released the names of the two people who died in a helicopter crash near Paekākāriki Hill earlier this week.
They were Cole Christopher Ritchie, 25, from Wharepapa South, and Joseph Mark Keeley, 54, from Tauhara.
The helicopter crashed on Wednesday, January 28, in rugged terrain near Paekākāriki Hill. Emergency services were alerted shortly after the crash.
New Zealand Police said a scene examination was completed on Thursday, with the wreckage removed from the site on Friday.
Kāpiti Mana Area Commander Inspector Renée Perkins said the response involved a highly coordinated, multi-agency effort under challenging conditions.
Emergency services worked alongside aviation authorities, local iwi, and regional partners, she said.
Inspector Perkins acknowledged the collaboration between Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Urban Search and Rescue, the Civil Aviation Authority, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai, and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
“The response demonstrated the strength of our inter-agency partnerships and the shared commitment to supporting one another and the community in difficult circumstances,” Perkins said.
Police continue to work with the Civil Aviation Authority and Victim Support to assist the families affected.
“Our sympathies remain with them at this incredibly difficult time,” Perkins said.