Queenstown helicopter company fined and loses aircraft over illegal crayfish sales

The Helicopter Line Limited has been fined $12,000 and ordered to forfeit two Airbus AS350 helicopters to the Crown. The aircraft, valued at over $1 million each, were used during the commission of fisheries offences. The company has applied for relief from forfeiture through a redemption package.

The sentencing in the Queenstown District Court concludes a prosecution regarding the 'Rees Ultimate Heli Crayfish Dining Experience'. This luxury tourism package involved flying guests to remote locations in Fiordland or the West Coast to watch a diver collect crayfish. Guests were charged between $4650 and $7750 for the experience.

Fisheries New Zealand stated that a commercial fishing permit is required to take any fish for sale. A fishery officer had previously directed the company in writing to cease the package after being warned it was illegal to sell seafood without a permit. During a subsequent inspection, officers found crayfish at The Rees Hotel labelled 'Heli crayfish'.

The Helicopter Line is the third party sentenced in the matter. The Rees Hotel was fined $22,000 in July last year for illegally selling recreationally caught crayfish and failing to keep records. Contracted diver David Brian Casey was fined $3750 in August for his role in the scheme.

How it developed

• Tue 29 Sep, 4:56pmThe hotel failed to keep invoices, which made it difficult to quantify the scale of the offending.

Where reports differ

• One report states the helicopter company charged the hotel between $2541.50 and $4650, while others state the total experience cost guests between $4650 and $7750.

Compiled from reports by 1News, The Press, NZ Herald, Stuff and RNZ.