A possum hunter who ingested cyanide paste has been rescued from Whirinaki Forest Park, 90km south-east of Rotorua.
Rotorua Police were notified that the man was ill after apparently ingesting the paste around 7pm last night.
A search and rescue operation by Rotorua Police search and rescue, volunteers and Department of Conservation staff was launched to find the man and get him first aid.
The searchers tramped for several hours into the bush to find the man, while ambulance staff waited at the end of the road nearest the scene.
The man was located around 12.30am.
He was so ill he was unable to walk, and the extremely difficult terrain precluded him being stretchered to the road.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force was contacted and a helicopter arrived about 2.30am.
The weather prevented the man from being airlifted until 3am.
He was then transported by ambulance to Rotorua Hospital for treatment.
