Fishing guide and wealthy client die in bush blaze (+photos)

The burned-out remains of the hut in the Urewera National Park. Photo / Alan Gibson

One of two men who died when fire engulfed their camping hut in the Urewera National Park was an expert trout guide who survived the 1995 Kobe earthquake in Japan.

The men, found at the Pakiaka Hut late on Boxing Day, are both believed to be Japanese.

One is thought to be Meadowbank resident Toshiya Babe, a fishing guide who emigrated to New Zealand to make a new life for himself in 1996, after the deadly Japanese quake that killed more than 5000 people and injured more than 26,000.

The other victim is understood to be a wealthy client whom Mr Babe had taken by helicopter to the national park to catch trophy-sized trout.

Mr Babe was a member of the New Zealand Japan Society of Auckland. President Kumiko Duxfield, who is also from Kobe, said Mr Babe used to own a pet shop in the city.

"I was buried alive for five hours," Mrs Duxfield said. "I was talking to Mr Babe and we had similar experiences. He lost the shop; that's why he decided to come to New Zealand."

Mrs Duxfield said Mr Babe's wife came with him to New Zealand, but returned to Japan.

"He didn't have any children. His wife didn't enjoy the lifestyle in New Zealand and they were separated."

He was thought to be in his early 40s, and had set up a business that he loved, Mrs Duxfield said.

"He had this affection for trout fishing and he was promoting and taking Japanese tourists to beautiful places.

"He was quite a reserved person, a quiet person, but once you got to know him he opened up".

Police could not confirm Mr Babe's identity last night, nor would they confirm that the second body was a client.

Lakeland Helicopters took the pair to the hut on Christmas Eve, and was to have picked them up at 6pm on Wednesday.

But the pilot found the hut burned to the ground. On closer inspection he found two charred bodies.

A spokesman for the company said Mr Babe was known to the company, having set up business about five years ago.

During the season, which starts in October and finishes mid-year, Mr Babe might make the 15-minute flight from Murupara two or three times, avoiding a five-hour hike to the hut.