Police investigate after bodies found in burnt DoC hut

Herald graphic.

The helicopter pilot who found two bodies at a hut destroyed by fire in Te Urewera National Park says he believes they were Asian men on a fishing trip.

The Lakelands Helicopters pilot, who did not wish to be named, had been sent to Parahaki Hut on the Waiau River for a scheduled pick-up of two fishermen when he found the hut burnt to the ground about 6pm yesterday.

He notified police, who arrived at the scene last night along with disaster victim identification personnel. A fire investigator was at the scene trying to determine the cause today.

The fishermen had been taken to the spot by another Lakelands helicopter two days beforehand and the pilot was shocked to find the hut destroyed when he arrived.

"It was basically burnt to the ground," he told NZPA.

"The men I was going to pick up were a couple of Asian men who had gone on a fishing trip. They were not there but there were a couple of bodies so I thought it must be them."

The pilot did not know what caused the fire but he felt it could have been connected to a gas bottle at the hut.

"I'm picking it was an accident, one of those unfortunate things that happen, though I don't know for sure."

He said the hut was popular with hunters and fishermen. It was a spartan structure with a single bedroom and a fire box for cooking and heating.

Police and fire investigators could not be contacted as the hut was in a remote area - about 10km west of Lake Waikaremoana - with little or no mobile phone coverage.

A Rotorua police spokeswoman said police would not comment on the matter again today.

- NZPA, NZ HERALD STAFF