Tourist dies in fall from helicopter
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A bad couple of weeks for the pilot
Greenstone theft puts pilot in jail
31 May 2006
By DEBBIE JAMIESON
Two years after he was charged with the theft of West Coast greenstone, helicopter pilot Harvey Hutton yesterday began an 18-month jail sentence.
Judge John MacDonald refused Hutton bail despite a draft appeal being lodged against his convictions on two representative counts of stealing greenstone between 1997 and 2004.
He also ordered Hutton to pay $300,000 in reparation to the rightful owners of the greenstone (pounamu), Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, and that high-quality upland stone confiscated from Hutton by police be given to the Runanga.
Runanga chief executive Tahu Potiki later said he was pleased the justice system had upheld Ngai Tahu's property rights, although he would like to have seen a different type of reparation.
"But at the moment we're satisfied we are in a position to protect the pounamu resource that belongs to Ngai Tahu."
The illegal theft of greenstone from the West Coast and subsequent investigations and criminal trials had delayed the beginnings of a Ngai Tahu-driven greenstone industry and that lost opportunity had cost an estimated 60 full-time jobs and nearly $2 million, he said.
The judge earlier told the Dunedin District Court, where the gallery was packed with Hutton's family and supporters, that it had been extremely difficult to assess the appropriate level of reparation.
The Crown contended Hutton owed more than $1m for the theft of 40 tonnes of greenstone.
Defence counsel Colin Withnall said evidence had shown only 20 tonnes had been stolen and Hutton, who still denied the theft, owed no more than $115,000 based on the evidence. However, he offered to pay $300,000.
Sentencing Hutton was difficult be-cause the case was unique and Hutton would be out of place in a prison, the judge said.
"Without wanting to overstate matters, it's quite clear in your search-and-rescue work that you have saved lives and often in heroic and trying circumstances.
"I can say unreservedly that you being in the community enhances the safety of the community. That is ironical."
The judge also heard Hutton had helped police locate a crashed helicopter that went missing in Mount Aspiring National Park in March and had contrib-uted to his community through his tourism business, Depart-ment of Conservation wildlife programmes, and even fundrais-ing at local cake stalls.
A large bundle of testi-monials given to the court included one signed by 16 Kaumatua and 34 members of the Makaawhio Runanga, the South-Westland Runanga that represents the area from where Hutton took greenstone.
The members were concerned that Hutton's inability to operate his helicopter company could adversely affect already limited employment and job opportunities in the area, it said.
However, the judge said Hutton's theft had been carefully planned with a high level of premeditation and had taken place over several years.
"I have to take the view that you were in it for the money," he said. "Because of the fact of the offending and value of the pro-perty involved I do not see that I can res-ponsibly impose any other sentence except imprisonment. Anything else would be quite inadequate in these circumstances."
Hutton was granted leave to apply for home detention in the Dunedin area.
31 May 2006
By DEBBIE JAMIESON
Two years after he was charged with the theft of West Coast greenstone, helicopter pilot Harvey Hutton yesterday began an 18-month jail sentence.
Judge John MacDonald refused Hutton bail despite a draft appeal being lodged against his convictions on two representative counts of stealing greenstone between 1997 and 2004.
He also ordered Hutton to pay $300,000 in reparation to the rightful owners of the greenstone (pounamu), Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, and that high-quality upland stone confiscated from Hutton by police be given to the Runanga.
Runanga chief executive Tahu Potiki later said he was pleased the justice system had upheld Ngai Tahu's property rights, although he would like to have seen a different type of reparation.
"But at the moment we're satisfied we are in a position to protect the pounamu resource that belongs to Ngai Tahu."
The illegal theft of greenstone from the West Coast and subsequent investigations and criminal trials had delayed the beginnings of a Ngai Tahu-driven greenstone industry and that lost opportunity had cost an estimated 60 full-time jobs and nearly $2 million, he said.
The judge earlier told the Dunedin District Court, where the gallery was packed with Hutton's family and supporters, that it had been extremely difficult to assess the appropriate level of reparation.
The Crown contended Hutton owed more than $1m for the theft of 40 tonnes of greenstone.
Defence counsel Colin Withnall said evidence had shown only 20 tonnes had been stolen and Hutton, who still denied the theft, owed no more than $115,000 based on the evidence. However, he offered to pay $300,000.
Sentencing Hutton was difficult be-cause the case was unique and Hutton would be out of place in a prison, the judge said.
"Without wanting to overstate matters, it's quite clear in your search-and-rescue work that you have saved lives and often in heroic and trying circumstances.
"I can say unreservedly that you being in the community enhances the safety of the community. That is ironical."
The judge also heard Hutton had helped police locate a crashed helicopter that went missing in Mount Aspiring National Park in March and had contrib-uted to his community through his tourism business, Depart-ment of Conservation wildlife programmes, and even fundrais-ing at local cake stalls.
A large bundle of testi-monials given to the court included one signed by 16 Kaumatua and 34 members of the Makaawhio Runanga, the South-Westland Runanga that represents the area from where Hutton took greenstone.
The members were concerned that Hutton's inability to operate his helicopter company could adversely affect already limited employment and job opportunities in the area, it said.
However, the judge said Hutton's theft had been carefully planned with a high level of premeditation and had taken place over several years.
"I have to take the view that you were in it for the money," he said. "Because of the fact of the offending and value of the pro-perty involved I do not see that I can res-ponsibly impose any other sentence except imprisonment. Anything else would be quite inadequate in these circumstances."
Hutton was granted leave to apply for home detention in the Dunedin area.
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Copter legend faces tough penalties
28 May 2006
By MARY JANE BOLAND
A Central Otago pilot involved in a hunting trip which left an American tourist dead faces forfeiture of his helicopter and property after a court conviction for stealing greenstone.
Makarora pilot Harvey Hutton will be sentenced in Dunedin District Court on Tuesday after last year being found guilty of stealing more than 10,000kg of greenstone from Ngai Tahu property on the West Coast between 1997 and 2004.
Crown solicitor Robin Bates said he would be seeking forfeiture of Hutton's chopper and property under proceeds of crime laws.
Hutton's lawyer, Colin Withnall, QC, said it was inappropriate to comment before sentencing.
Hutton is something of a legend in Central Otago. He has run hunting trips for 30 years, and operates several tourism ventures - including jetboating - from Makarora, 65km north of Wanaka. His helicopter hunting expeditions go into remote alpine terrain.
Police are investigating Monday's hunting trip, in which New Hampshire plumbing company owner Clifford Wayne Senter, 57, died after he slipped about 300m down a cliff in Mt Aspiring National Park.
Police are trying to clarify whether Senter slipped as he was getting out of the chopper, piloted by Hutton, or after he was on the ground.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHutton's wife, Patsy, said her husband had nothing to say about the Crown's attempts to claim his helicopter and their property.
Civil Aviation Authority safety investigator Harold Carter hoped to receive more information from police this week to determine if his agency needed to investigate. It depended on whether Senter was on the helicopter when he slipped. If the CAA investigated, it would assess whether the spot was suitable for a helicopter to set down passengers.
Johnston said the area where the helicopter landed was rugged alpine terrain.
Senter's close friend, Nelson Rapanot, was in the helicopter when the accident occurred.
He and Senter, and their wives, were on their first trip to New Zealand.
Speaking from Plaistow, New Hampshire, Senter's sister-in-law Sandra Senter said Rapanot had told them it was slippery in the area because of snow and recent rain.
"The wind rocked the helicopter a little bit and he lost his footing. (Nelson) tried to grab him and his fingers slipped through him."
The family did not blame anyone for the death, she said. "Accidents happen for whatever reason... Cliffy had been hunting for long enough that he wouldn't have let them do something unsafe."
Clifford and Linda Senter had travelled the world on golf and hunting expeditions, bringing home many hunting trophies.
He had a room dedicated to his hunting trophies and had already caught a thar in New Zealand which he planned to mount on a wall alongside the chamois he and Rapanot were chasing when the accident happened.
Sandra Senter said Clifford Senter's wife Linda had been unable to talk since the accident
28 May 2006
By MARY JANE BOLAND
A Central Otago pilot involved in a hunting trip which left an American tourist dead faces forfeiture of his helicopter and property after a court conviction for stealing greenstone.
Makarora pilot Harvey Hutton will be sentenced in Dunedin District Court on Tuesday after last year being found guilty of stealing more than 10,000kg of greenstone from Ngai Tahu property on the West Coast between 1997 and 2004.
Crown solicitor Robin Bates said he would be seeking forfeiture of Hutton's chopper and property under proceeds of crime laws.
Hutton's lawyer, Colin Withnall, QC, said it was inappropriate to comment before sentencing.
Hutton is something of a legend in Central Otago. He has run hunting trips for 30 years, and operates several tourism ventures - including jetboating - from Makarora, 65km north of Wanaka. His helicopter hunting expeditions go into remote alpine terrain.
Police are investigating Monday's hunting trip, in which New Hampshire plumbing company owner Clifford Wayne Senter, 57, died after he slipped about 300m down a cliff in Mt Aspiring National Park.
Police are trying to clarify whether Senter slipped as he was getting out of the chopper, piloted by Hutton, or after he was on the ground.
AdvertisementAdvertisementHutton's wife, Patsy, said her husband had nothing to say about the Crown's attempts to claim his helicopter and their property.
Civil Aviation Authority safety investigator Harold Carter hoped to receive more information from police this week to determine if his agency needed to investigate. It depended on whether Senter was on the helicopter when he slipped. If the CAA investigated, it would assess whether the spot was suitable for a helicopter to set down passengers.
Johnston said the area where the helicopter landed was rugged alpine terrain.
Senter's close friend, Nelson Rapanot, was in the helicopter when the accident occurred.
He and Senter, and their wives, were on their first trip to New Zealand.
Speaking from Plaistow, New Hampshire, Senter's sister-in-law Sandra Senter said Rapanot had told them it was slippery in the area because of snow and recent rain.
"The wind rocked the helicopter a little bit and he lost his footing. (Nelson) tried to grab him and his fingers slipped through him."
The family did not blame anyone for the death, she said. "Accidents happen for whatever reason... Cliffy had been hunting for long enough that he wouldn't have let them do something unsafe."
Clifford and Linda Senter had travelled the world on golf and hunting expeditions, bringing home many hunting trophies.
He had a room dedicated to his hunting trophies and had already caught a thar in New Zealand which he planned to mount on a wall alongside the chamois he and Rapanot were chasing when the accident happened.
Sandra Senter said Clifford Senter's wife Linda had been unable to talk since the accident
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greenstone is a type of stone (funny enough), they use it for making jewllery and stone carvings, the ancient maroi used it as weapons and it is now worth a bit of money!!! especially now that the maroi's didn't have to pay to get this lot lifted out!!
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And worth more after the NZ goverment gave them the land that goes with it... The best stuff is found around the cascade river on the west coast .Thats where i got my lot from .
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"What is Greenstone"
B. Sousa
I
It is a type of nephrite jade. It is extremely hard and as EMS says ideal for making jewellery. The NZ jade (pounamu) is prized of its deep dark green colour.
Yes, you are correct there is an element of the tribals vs palefaces. However, it is more a case of theft of property.
The Government vested ownership of pounamu to the local Maori tribe as part of its settlement of claims related to land confiscation and alienation.
Before that it was deemed to be owned by the Crown. It was able to be mined and sold under licence. There was never a situation where people could just go and help themselves - despite the fact that some did just that.
TK
I
It is a type of nephrite jade. It is extremely hard and as EMS says ideal for making jewellery. The NZ jade (pounamu) is prized of its deep dark green colour.
Yes, you are correct there is an element of the tribals vs palefaces. However, it is more a case of theft of property.
The Government vested ownership of pounamu to the local Maori tribe as part of its settlement of claims related to land confiscation and alienation.
Before that it was deemed to be owned by the Crown. It was able to be mined and sold under licence. There was never a situation where people could just go and help themselves - despite the fact that some did just that.
TK
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te_kahu. you can actually go and get it as long as you can carry it!!!
The Government vested ownership of pounamu to the local Maori tribe as part of its settlement of claims related to land confiscation and alienation.
the3 only alienation was when the white boys did finish the job properly years ago!!!
The Government vested ownership of pounamu to the local Maori tribe as part of its settlement of claims related to land confiscation and alienation.
the3 only alienation was when the white boys did finish the job properly years ago!!!
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I think what ems300 means is when the European arrived they didn't kill all the maoris out .And if they did do it job right the first time , none of this would of happened. I think that the a great % of NZers are sick of the goverment giving out hand outs left , right and center to the maori.
Gatvol
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Looks like Te_Kahu lit the fire when he deemed it necessary to mention that the Government Robe Wearers have sacraficed another paleface to appease the Gods........
Anyway, its the same song from another place. We have it here in the U.S., Canada has theirs, its rampant now in South Africa.
I now know what greenstone is... and Im sure it wont be long for the PC Mods here jump in as a Non Politically Correct Hijacking of the thread may be in progress.
Back to the Poor Soul who walked off the 300 meter "Steep Bluff"
Anyway, its the same song from another place. We have it here in the U.S., Canada has theirs, its rampant now in South Africa.
I now know what greenstone is... and Im sure it wont be long for the PC Mods here jump in as a Non Politically Correct Hijacking of the thread may be in progress.
Back to the Poor Soul who walked off the 300 meter "Steep Bluff"
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How about a nice cup of tea and a lie down
B Sousa
Well said.
I didn't intend to light a fire which took the thread completely away from anthing at all to do with Rotorheads.
It does seem that a couple of my countrymen are a tad aggrieved. Sadly ill informed but aggrieved none the less.
TK
........"Back to the Poor Soul who walked off the 300 meter "Steep Bluff" "
Well said.
I didn't intend to light a fire which took the thread completely away from anthing at all to do with Rotorheads.
It does seem that a couple of my countrymen are a tad aggrieved. Sadly ill informed but aggrieved none the less.
TK
........"Back to the Poor Soul who walked off the 300 meter "Steep Bluff" "
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Thanks hughesy. I look at this accident as just that , A unfortuante accident .People that venture in to the back country of any place in the world know the risk involved .I feel the problem in this case , That the people that go on guide hunt's in some parts of NZ do not have a great lot of experince in this sort of terrain .
The terrain where the accident happened is rugged with gaint bluffs ,ice and snow .As someone stated on this thread , "if it didnt involve a Chopper who would really care .
Hard luck Harvey . You be back just as strong .
The terrain where the accident happened is rugged with gaint bluffs ,ice and snow .As someone stated on this thread , "if it didnt involve a Chopper who would really care .
Hard luck Harvey . You be back just as strong .
Bert,
Up in Alaska many Moons ago...there was one place near Galena that was right for slinging off unworked tailings from a very productive gold mine. Plan was to stop by on the empty back haul and grab a load and drop them at a stream bed close to the work site and work it during the off season. Only thing that stopped us was the concept of Alaskan justice being much quicker than the legal system when way out in the bush.
Don't you just love the helicopter business....I am sure you know a crook or two from your travels.
Up in Alaska many Moons ago...there was one place near Galena that was right for slinging off unworked tailings from a very productive gold mine. Plan was to stop by on the empty back haul and grab a load and drop them at a stream bed close to the work site and work it during the off season. Only thing that stopped us was the concept of Alaskan justice being much quicker than the legal system when way out in the bush.
Don't you just love the helicopter business....I am sure you know a crook or two from your travels.
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ems300
I am appalled at your ignorance, learn how to spell maori before you start slagging them.
........"Back to the Poor Soul who walked off the 300 meter "Steep Bluff" "
I am appalled at your ignorance, learn how to spell maori before you start slagging them.
........"Back to the Poor Soul who walked off the 300 meter "Steep Bluff" "
Last edited by Rotorchick; 31st May 2006 at 07:49.
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I think what Bushbandit meant to say was: "Since I'm a white supremacist, I think we should have slaughtered all the Maori when we had the chance, then we wouldn't have had to deal with all of their complaints regarding the British Empire stealing their land."
Deer/Elk/Moose done as Country style steak, mashed potatoes, Green beans, carrots........hmmmmmmm Good!
Rabbit done on the Webber, deep fried Wild Turkey, squirrel pie, fried Dove and cheese grits, now we are talking!
Rabbit done on the Webber, deep fried Wild Turkey, squirrel pie, fried Dove and cheese grits, now we are talking!