Two people are dead and three are seriously injured after a helicopter crash north of Kaikōura, police say.
Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
Police said emergency services were alerted to the crash on the beach at Kekerengu Rivermouth, near the town of Clarence, at 12.40pm.
They said five people were involved in the crash, including the pilot and four passengers. Earlier reports of six people being on board were incorrect, they said.
Clarence residents helped pull all five from the crash.
Local resident Ian Mehrtens said he was drinking a cup of tea at home when he watched the helicopter start going around in circles, then fall from the sky.
He immediately raced to help, along with four of five others. Mehrtens said people were trying to get the injured free of the wreckage in case it caught alight.
Kaikōura District deputy mayor Julie Howden said it was a shock for the community and the council would look to help where it could.
Paramedics were flown in from Wellington, Christchurch and Nelson, as well as an ambulance from Kaikōura.
Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
The three injured people were airlifted to Wellington Hospital.
Police said information about the deceased and injured, including ages and genders, would not be released until their families had been notified.
The Civil Aviation Authority and Transport Accident Investigation Commission have been notified.