KEY POINTS:
Alcohol may have been a factor in the deaths of two men from carbon monoxide poisoning after they took a charcoal barbecue into their holiday cabin to keep warm, police say.
Another man, 32-year-old Jason Basson, survived the tragedy at Ruapuke, 20km south of Raglan.
Huntly police Sergeant Brent Wallace said the men were drinking before taking the barbecue inside to keep warm.
"All they wanted was a little warmth but a bit of alcohol clouded their judgment," he said.
It was an absolute warning of what could happen, he said.
Preliminary autopsy results showed the men had died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Police were still waiting for a toxicology report, which would show how much alcohol was in the men's blood.
Officers said yesterday they were not publicly identifying the dead men until they had contacted next of kin in South Africa. One was a 37-year-old store manager and the other was a stock purchaser, aged 50.
A grieving relative at the Auckland home of one of the men told the Herald yesterday that the family were too distraught to comment. He described the two victims as "outstanding men".
The friends were on a fishing trip while their partners were having a baby shower.
They were found by a mate from a neighbouring cabin about 8am on Sunday.
Waitemata District Health Board spokeswoman Bryony Hilless said yesterday that Mr Basson was still in a serious condition in North Shore Hospital's high-dependency unit. However, his condition had improved.
He was initially given oxygen treatment at the specialist Navy Hospital in Devonport, where there is a hyperbaric chamber, a treatment used for the diving sickness the "bends".
New Zealand Mountain Safety Council spokesman Chris Tews offered his condolences to the families involved.
"We recommend that any stove fuelled by gas, charcoal or kerosene be used outside.
"If stoves are used inside, there must be adequate ventilation at all times. The stove must be carefully monitored and fully extinguished before going to sleep.
"Charcoal barbecues should only ever be used outside and constantly monitored."