Kaimahi first on scene to help injured hiker

The Marauiti Hut on the Waikaremoana Great Walk. Kaimahi and Wairoa Search and Rescue (SAR) took an injured woman to Gisborne Hospital after she fell and hurt her hip while collecting firewood. Picture supplied

by Ben Ulisse

In a combined effort by local iwi and Wairoa Search and Rescue last Thursday, a 62-year-old woman was flown to Gisborne Hospital after sustaining injuries from a fall whie on the Waikaremoana Great Walk.

The woman slipped and fell while gathering firewood, 50 metres from Marauiti Hut mid-morning.  She injured her hip.

Her hiking companion backtracked to Waiharuru Hut, looking for one of the hut wardens. They had stayed in the hut the night before.

Ngāi Tūhoe communications manager Here Titoko said the assigned hut warden was away assisting with field operations, but was due back.

“The woman left a note  and returned to her injured partner. The warden arrived back at 2pm that afternoon and raised the alarm.”

Once the alarm was raised, kaimahi operations and a rescue helicopter were on the way.

Tuai senior constable Tony Maultsaid, who is also the search and rescue coordinator for the Wairoa area, said the woman’s friend“ran all the way”  back to the Waiharuru Hut 4.2 kilometres away, which was a hugely impressive feat for anyone.

Sen Const Maultsaid said that although SAR arrived early on the scene, it was local kaimahi out on the water in their boat who were the biggest heroes of the day.

Here Titoko of Ngāi Tūhoe agreed, saying it was the kaimahi ops team who got to the injured woman first.

“As it was an emergency situation, the tribal general manager Tina Wagner jumped on to advise the team.

“She advised one of the staff members to call 111. She sent the one who was already on the boat, the skipper, to go over to Marauiti to get info on the medical history and what happened. So then that info was relayed to the one who called 111.”