Frank Erceg with 11 pointer stag in the Te Naihai Valley, South Westland, 1962.

About this image

DescriptionFrank was a great hunter and many New Zealand hunting books talk about his exceptional abilities as a marksman, mountaineer, and wildlife photographer. Philip Holden described Frank as “perhaps the greatest hunter of them all.”
Frank died young at age thirty on June 1st 1965, along with his mate John Cummings – they were the first fatalities in the helicopter meat-recovery industry, they both died instantly, struck down by the rotor blade of a helicopter on the upper Matukituki Valley west of Wanaka.
After his death the NZFS built a hut and named it in memory of Frank Erceg. Erceg hut is located in the Ruataniwha Conservation Park, Canterbury. The hut was named by John Reardon to honour Frank. Usually huts are named are geographic features but exceptions are made to honour a deer culler or field officer.Date of Photo1962Map^[1]ContributorPaul Nankivell

Shown in this image

Location (city or town)Te Naihai ValleySouth WestlandEventFrank Erceg deer hunterHunting

Category Information

Category Taghunting

From Facebook

Date Created22nd February 2022CommentsAnne Hines
Michael Hines, u still got franks pic?

Craig Benbow
Do you have a connection to the Ercegs Anne Hines ?

Bev Kelly
Craig did your family live on the Lands and Survey farm at Bell Hill at some stage? Doug Benbow was on that farm when I worked in the office in Hokitika.

Craig Benbow
That is right Bev Kelly Seems like a lifetime ago

Bev Kelly
Craig.. my dad Dick Elcock was a field officer for L&S and then District Field Officer later on… I know he used to visit all the farms in Westland. I think Angus Paterson was on Bell Hill too?

Craig Benbow
Bev Kelly Yes Angus was Manager when we went there and he moved to Nelson Creek when that was purchased.

Bev Kelly
Craig that's right, I remember Angus on Nelson Creek

Michael Hines
Think i do bt wont put ir on here rip frank e

Stephen Foster
This happened about 12 o’clock just passed Frank Murphys coal yard I know who put the stones o the track that derailed it this back early 70s
Reply8h
Wally Osullivan
Stephen Foster They would have to be bloody big stones, and more like Rocks / Boulders I would say Steve.
Those stones supporting the sleepers along the tracks are not big enough to derail an engine that big,, or so my father told me, who was with the railways for almost 50 years, and as the chief claims officer, had to attend accidents like this right across the country.
I remember him telling us about stones on the tracks not having much effect at all.
Reply8h
Stephen Foster
Wally Osullivan it happened where’s I was there we shit ourselves
Reply8h
Wally Osullivan
Stephen Foster LOL. Mischief Buggar. I remember we used to put pennies on the tracks LOL, but then again, I'm not as mischief as you.
Merry Xmas to you and the whanau Steve.
Reply8h
Marty Agnew
Stephen Foster I bet you do lol
Reply7h
Kevin Oregan
Is that the old steam crane ?
Reply8h
Lyn N Moe
Kevin Oregan Yes Kevin, stationed in chch I never drove the steam crane but believe the driver drove by a mirror each side.
Reply6h
Colin Perano
Kevin Oregan I think Tom Watson was on that crane, but I'm not sure
Reply3h
Ray Deo
D Jump the track
Reply7h
Lyn N Moe
Most of the Hoki bridge gang this end. Looks like Digger Heron, Hup Tainui, Mickey Pullen, Tony Chalecki, Maybe Jimmy Vroblifski with red hair and cap and perhaps Jimmy Connor with hat standing on the beam.
Reply6h
Tommi Mills
Lyn N Moe Moe is that crane steam driven for there is one like that at Ferrymend
Reply6h
PaulAnthony Teens
Lyn N Moe doing what they did in the bridge gang. Sweet Danny!
Reply1h

Kevin Oregan
Thank you Lyn Moe's. My earliest young boy memories was watching this old crane doing maintenance on Landing, Larry's creek and Waitahu bridges. It would be shunted into Landing siding then when required down at the bridge usually on a Sunday it would self propel to and from. Marvelous old machine.

OCR Text Transcription Edit Edit +-Close

Editing is temporarily disabled

Cancel Edit

Start typing here to find a location	Latitude	Longitude	Zoom	Actions

loading google map....

Save Cancel

Menu

Frank Erceg with 11 pointer stag in the Te Naihai Valley, South Westland, 1962.

Editing is temporarily disabled