Police say two people have died in a helicopter crash near Wellington today.

Emergency services were called to a helicopter crash in the Paekākāriki Hill area, north of Wellington, by an automated crash alert at 7.30am.

Inspector Renée Perkins said both the pilot and sole passenger were found deceased following the crash.

She said police were working to remove the bodies from the area and cordons were in place around the Battle Hill campground.

Police would work alongside the Civil Aviation Authority to examine the scene.

A police vehicle with a trailer is seen at the site this afternoon. Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook

A man who discovered a body in the “unrecognisable” wreckage of a helicopter that crashed says he was checking for vital signs as the Westpac helicopter arrived at the scene.

He said he checked the vital signs of one of the people on the helicopter and they were deceased.

Shortly afterwards, he said another person was located some distance from the wreckage on steep terrain in thick scrub.

“It’s not my first. I spent 27 years in search and rescue – so it’s not something new to me,” the man said.

He said he attempted to shut the helicopter off as fuel was running out of the aircraft, but could not access the switch to do so.

“Because there’s fuel leaking out and the machine was still turned on, we took the safe option and we moved out of the way,” he said.

The man said he understood the helicopter was involved in goat culling in the area.

Police, Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre and Fire and Emergency responded to the crash.

Fire and Emergency had sent two crews from Porirua, along with their “line rescue team”. Also known as rope rescue personnel, they are trained in high-angle, vertical, or challenging terrain, often handling rescues at height or in confined spaces.

Photo: RNZ / Charlotte Cook

The newly appointed Police Assistant Commissioner, currently District Commander, Corrie Parnell has arrived on site. RNZ understands authorities are currently in meetings and they are struggling to access the site because of the area.

Park rangers and teams on ATVs were trying to make the scene more accessible.

While helicopters have been in the air this morning, an RNZ reporter at the scene says Flight Radar is no longer showing helicopters in the area.

A Westpac rescue helicopter can be seen hovering over the valley near Battle Hill. Photo: Samuel Rillstone

Local MP Tim Costley said he was sad to hear of the tragic helicopter crash.

“My heart goes out to the family, friends, and loved ones of those two people. Their families will be really feeling it right now and I know we all send our thoughts and prayer,” he said.

Costley, who formerly served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, said many in the region, and in the wider Defence Force community, will be remembering the tragic events of Anzac Day 2010.

Wednesday’s crash was near Pukerua Bay, where three people died in a crash involving an Air Force helicopter on Anzac Day in 2010.

“While today is all about the families impacted this morning, I’m mindful of those who will cast their minds back to that day, and remember the awful wait as they sought desperately for information about their loved ones, only to receive the worst possible news. Today, two more families go through that same unimaginable experience,” he said.

“Let’s keep the families first and foremost in our thoughts at this really sad time.”

~ RNZ

New Zealand-born actress Anna Sawai has won an Emmy for her lead role in the critically acclaimed historical drama Shōgun.

The 32-year-old actress made history by becoming the first Japanese actress to win an Emmy in her category, alongside her co-star Hiroyuki Sanada, who took out the best leading actor in a drama award.

She beat out Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age), Imelda Staunton (The Crown), Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show), Maya Erskine (Mr. and Mrs. Smith) and Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show).

Tearful as she took to the stage, she paid tribute to her mother.

“I was crying before my name was announced, I am a mess today,” Sawai said.

“Thank you to my family, Mom. I love you. You are the reason I’m here. You showed me stoicism, and that’s how I was able to portray Mariko. This is to all the women who expect nothing and continue to be an example for everyone.”

She also thanked fellow nominees, her co-stars, and the show’s crew.

Anna Sawai (L) and Hiroyuki Sanada, Emmy winners of the best lead actors in a drama, in the press room during the 76th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on September 15, 2024. Photo: AFP / Robyn Beck

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Shōgun, an adaptation of James Clavell’s bestselling novel, follows a British sailor after his ship washes ashore a Japanese fishing village in the year 1600. It was reportedly Disney-owned FX’s most expensive series to create.

Sawai played the role of Toda Mariko, a poised and mysterious woman who serves as the translator for Lord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada).

“I don’t know if I’ve seen anything that, as a Japanese person, could say, ‘That is accurate’,” she told Town and Country. “Reading Mariko’s story just really spoke to me so much, and I knew that she was the character that I needed to play.”

She told Billboard, before the ceremony, that it was one of the most mentally challenging roles she has had to play.

“It’s not just the stunts, it’s wearing the costumes, that’s already physically tough … I was dreaming nightmares, so yeah, it was a lot.”

The show had the most nominations, 25, this year and was poised to be the frontrunner since the announcement of the candidates. It had already won 14 Emmys at the Creative Arts Awards the night before and took out the coveted best drama series title today.

Sawai – a first-time nominee – told Seth Meyers in July that she was excited ahead of the nomination announcements but didn’t think she would be in the list.

Anna Sawai was visibly emotional as she walked up to get her award. Photo: Kevin Winter / Getty Images / AFP

The Pachinko actress had spent two years in New Zealand after being born here in 1992.

Her father’s electronics company job saw the family move around the Pacific during her childhood, before settling in Japan at the age of 10. She previously told Stuff that she still identifies as a Kiwi.

She was also in a Japanese pop girl group before she got into acting.

~RNZ