Wanaka police have now named all three men killed in a helicopter crash yesterday.
The three men who died in the helicopter crash near Wanaka Airport (from left) Nick Wallis, Paul Hondelink and Scott Theobold. Photo: Supplied
Police this morning named the third person who died as Scott Theobold, 59, of Twizel.
Mr Theobold, DOC ranger Paul Hondelink, 63, and 38-year-old pilot Nick Wallis, son of aviation pioneer Sir Tim Wallis and general manager of Alpine Helicopters, were killed when the Hughes 500 crashed shortly after takeoff.
They were taking part in an operation to reduce tahr numbers.
Watch a video of this morning's media stand-up with Wanaka police here:
Southern District Commander Superintendent Paul Basham said at this point there was nothing to suggest that the helicopter had been subject to foul play.
"Today we concentrate on the scene. Our priority is to to do what we need to do by way of the disaster victim identification process."
Mr Basham said it was hoped to be able to remove the bodies from the site later today.
Police believed there was ammunition on board but Mr Basham said the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) would have to answer questions on the state of the ammunition after the accident.
"We recognise the significance of this tragedy not only for immediate family but also for the wider DOC staff and the alpine and aviation community in Wanaka," he said.
The crash came just three months after Mr Wallis's brother Matthew died when his helicopter crashed into Lake Wanaka.
The scene of the fatal helicopter crash near Wanaka airport. Photo: ODT / Mark Price
DOC director-general Lou Sanson said Mr Hondelink started work in conservation 47 years ago.
He said all three men represented some of the most significant conservation experience in the world.
"It feels like a huge hole in the Department of Conservation this morning" - Lou Sanson
"They pioneered so much for conservation, as have the Wallises."
The Wallis family had been linked with conservation their whole lives, he said.
"Lady Wallis set up the National Parks and Conservation Foundation, Sir Tim Wallis has the same background as my staff who were killed in the accident. Nick ..with his engineering experience, he was constantly trialling new ways of pest control."
Mr Sanson said along with the Wallis family, Mr Hondelink had man pioneered the use of 'Judas goats' - where a feral goat is fitted with a radio transmitter allowing a hunter to locate the whole flock.
"He was able to do huge catchments of predator control, for not a lot of money, just because of the way he thought things through.
Mr Theobold was a DOC predator-dog handler and breeder.
"He was just born to kill predators to bring back our birds. He pioneered the first predator dog in 1996.
"Thousands of birds are alive on islands because of these people"
The Alpine Helicopters office Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
In a statement, the Alpine Group said the DOC workers who died formed part of a team of elite senior rangers within the department.
"Importantly, they were personal friends of Alpine staff and ownership, who are also grieving at this time."
The tahr control operation has been put on hold. The DOC staff were based in Twizel where the tahr operation is run from, Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage said.