[justinator]

My thought after reading the article is that they were hunted to the brink, and then climate change did them in. Somewhat akin to what also (or may in a few more decades) happen to the American Buffalo. Rich Māori having holding pens for the last of the Moa just for curiosity sake is a funny thought.

NZ today is a tough place to stay alive. One of my closest brushes with death happened there in a rapidly rising river that trapped me on a small island for 3 days without a shelter. Once I extracted myself out, the general feeling from the rangers and locals is what happened to me wasn't so rare, except somehow I managed to survived.

[RowanH]

> NZ today is a tough place to stay alive.

This might be a low effort reply, but a bunch of us manage too :)

In all seriousness every country has it's own unique things that locals are very much familiar with and outsiders it's just foreign to.

Australia - predisposed to critters that want to kill you. Checking your shoes for spiders is a thing.

America - well I'll leave the obvious out, but there's some pretty nasty deserts you'd not want to be caught out in, or the odd cat 4 Tornado, or my favourite from last visit, walking past a tree that had head high claw marks all through it (either Cougar or Bear, wtf, that was like a 20min walk from the hotel in boulder!!)

Then there's Canada -40c anyone? That's really not meant for human survival.

[EdwardDiego]

The actual feeling of the rangers and locals would've been "FFS, the weather forecasts are pretty specific, everyone knows heavy rain means floods, but at least we're not searching for your body."

Source - former ranger.

[RileyJames]

Having moved from Australia to New Zealand, I’d say the opposite.

There’s nothing here that can kill you.

No bushfires. No snakes. Very few sharks. Spiders are rare, and white tails don’t kill. It doesn’t get hot enough to kill you. There’s water everywhere, but it doesn’t seem to flood.

I’m assuming your rising river was on the South Island. Definitely plenty of opportunities to get yourself in trouble down there, but you’d have to go well out of your way.

Earthquakes are the only new danger, and they’re mostly in the south / Wellington.

No crocodiles. No camels (car accidents).

Both countries have bikie/gang violence, but I’m not sure that’s a real danger for gen pop.

[Mandatum]

Floods are pretty regular, but in places like the Hauraki Plains and Canterbury, mostly regional farming areas. Main people affected are farmers, livestock and farming infrastructure.

[Mandatum]

> except somehow I managed to survived.

We don't have many deaths from hikers and trampers. Most are from falls, others from drowning. I'm sure you prepared for the hike, many tourists do not and it's often national news when someone goes missing off a trail.

If you go for long tramps, you take your own food and shelter. And hopefully either an emergency beacon or check the area for cell service.

The fact you were there for 3 days, I assume you either never told anyone where you were - and they weren't aware you were stranded, and you didn't have any method for contacting emergency services.

If you did have a method for contacting them, if you have food, they'll quite happily let your suffer for up to 5 days as they know hypothermia is unlikely, you'll either be a little dehydrated or hungry - but provided you're not injured, they'll let you trek back on your own - they'll only send people out if you don't come back after a few more days. If you were injured, they'd have sent the Westpac helicopter to you within a week (when it's convenient or you're on a flight path convenient to other rescues). Most of the time that helicopter is used for immediate evacuation scenarios (strokes, heart attacks, etc) - and hikers usually aren't in that bucket.

They might be miserable, but being hungry with a shattered ankle, you're not a priority.

[justinator]

>If you go for long tramps, you take your own food and shelter.

I actually didn't bring a tent, as I was on my way to a hut.

> The fact you were there for 3 days, I assume you either never told anyone where you were - and they weren't aware you were stranded, and you didn't have any method for contacting emergency services.

I checked into a ranger station. It was Easter Weekend, so no one was there.

> If you did have a method for contacting them, if you have food, they'll quite happily let your suffer for up to 5 days as they know hypothermia is unlikely,

It rained and snowed the entire time. I was without shelter, and the island I was on was quickly disappearing as the water level of the river kept rising. I attempted to make a shelter out of sticks and grass, only to find the ground waterlogged, so I instead laid on top of it. I woke up in the middle of the night completely surrounded by water. I was so cold, I prayed for death. At the end of the last night, I was clutching onto a tree trunk on the only patch of ground sticking above the water, as waves licked my feet, waiting to be washed away into the river, as I watched logs like the ones next to me float into, and quickly escape the beam of my head torch.

So when I say,

> except somehow I managed to survived.

Believe me.

[Mandatum]

Sorry - that sounds horrible, what island were you on that snows during Easter? Also, always assume some asshole burnt down the hut. Apart from that being a semi-regular occurrence now, it also just .. happens. Assholes book and stay at DoC cabins too. Also lots of drinking and illegal bonfires.

For anyone else who's worried about making a similar trip, please use this govt-made website which talks about what's recommended, as well as has an online service for logging your walks. If there isn't anybody to tell that you're going on one of these hikes, that means you shouldn't go. It isn't optional.

https://www.adventuresmart.nz/

For anyone in other countries without this service - if you're backpacking in hostels, or have a booking at a hotel after - ring and tell the staff before you go. If it's through AirBnB.. Well, I hope you make friends with someone who can check in with you before you leave!