What not to do when critters strike

A report describing some of the country's poisonous creatures - and what to do when you get stung or bitten by one - has dispelled "traditional" remedies.

The report, New Zealand's Venomous Creatures, has also rebutted claims the bite of the white-tailed spider can lead to flesh-eating ulcers.

Recently published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the document lists 11 venomous creatures found throughout the country, including spiders, jellyfish, stingrays and even the Kiwi delicacy: kina.

Dr Leo Schep, one of four authors of the report, said it was written to help general practitioners.

"It's a standalone document for doctors," Dr Schep said.

"They'll probably pin it up on the wall and it'll be there for years until that phone call comes in and then it will all be worth it - they'll know how to treat something straight away."

What to do - and what not to do - when bitten or stung by a critter, has also been outlined. Most treatments consist of flushing the wound with sea water or immersing it in hot water.

Dr Schep said many people believed in "traditional" treatments that included urinating or dabbing vinegar on a jellyfish wound - treatments that just wouldn't work.

"If you get stung by a [blue bottle] jellyfish, don't use vinegar on it. That only works for the jellyfish in Australia. I wouldn't recommend urine either - use fresh or seawater and then hot water."

A recent study in Australia showed there was no link between white-tailed spider bites and necrotic (flesh-eating) ulcers.

Previous medical and media reports claimed the white-tailed spider - an Australian native - caused tissue necrosis.

But Dr Schep said: "They've been here for around 100 years - they're not venomous and they're not going to kill you."