A 4-year-old boy was taken to hospital after swallowing cotton from a blanket that became stuck in his throat.
The child was picked up from Matakana Island, north of Tauranga, about 7pm by the Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter and taken to the Tauranga Hospital to have the cotton removed.
Pilot Liam Brettkelly said family members attempted to pull the cotton out but called emergency services after failing to do so.
He was accompanied on the rescue helicopter by his mother.