Ivan Peter Van de Water loved to fly. On Saturday, 29 March 2025, the 65-year-old Gore businessman and respected community figure climbed into a light plane near Lake Hāwea — and never came home. His friend Don Grant, a Central Otago man, survived but sustained critical injuries that required emergency crews to cut him from the wreckage.

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Date: 29 March 2025 ·
Location: Near Lake Hāwea, Central Otago ·
Fatalities: 1 ·
Injuries: 1 critical ·
Aircraft: Light plane

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact cause of crash — under investigation (Mirage News)
  • Aircraft type and registration — not publicly confirmed (Mirage News)
  • Pilot identity — not officially stated by police (Mirage News)
3Timeline signal
  • Emergency beacon triggered around 1pm (Newstalk ZB)
  • Rescue reached site approximately 1:30pm (1News)
  • Survivor evacuated by helicopter 3:30–3:45pm (1News)
4What’s next
  • Police inquiries on behalf of Civil Aviation Authority (Mirage News)
  • Death referred to Coroner for further assessment (Mirage News)
  • AOPA NZ cooperating with investigation (Mirage News)

A summary of key facts from official sources appears below.

Detail Value
Date 29 March 2025
Location Dingleburn Valley, east of Lake Hāwea
Aircraft Type Light plane (type unconfirmed)
Fatalities Ivan Peter Van de Water, aged 65
Injuries Don Grant, 1 serious (critical)
Emergency Response 1:30pm arrival, helicopter evacuation 3:30–3:45pm
Investigation Lead Police on behalf of CAA, Coroner involved

What Happened in the Light Plane Crash at Lake Hawea?

Crash Details

Emergency services were alerted around 1:30pm on 29 March 2025 after Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre picked up a distress signal from a light aircraft’s emergency location transmitter approximately an hour earlier. The crash occurred in the remote Dingleburn Valley on the eastern side of Lake Hāwea, roughly 13 kilometres north of Wānaka.

Two occupants were on board the private light plane. One died at the scene; the other sustained critical injuries. Rescue crews from Fire and Emergency NZ used cutting equipment to free the surviving occupant from the wreckage. The aircraft was destroyed.

Initial Response

The critically injured person was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter around 3:30–3:45pm. A police scene guard remained in place overnight to preserve the crash site.

Why this matters

The crash took place during an event organised by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association NZ (AOPA), placing the incident squarely within New Zealand’s private aviation community and triggering scrutiny of event safety protocols.

Who Were the Victims of the Lake Hāwea Crash?

Fatal Victim

Police officially confirmed the identity of the deceased as Ivan Peter Van de Water, aged 65, on 1 March 2025. Van de Water was a well-respected Gore businessman known for his work promoting the town’s commercial district. Although based in Gore, he resided in Wānaka at the time of the crash.

The Gore community is reeling from his death, described by local reporting as that of a prominent and well-liked member whose contributions shaped the town’s business landscape.

Injured Occupant

Don Grant, a Central Otago man and long-time friend of Van de Water, survived the crash but suffered critical injuries. He was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital following the incident. His current condition beyond the initial critical status has not been updated publicly.

Police extend their condolences to his family at this difficult time.

— NZ Police official statement

The loss of Van de Water represents a significant gap in Gore’s commercial development efforts.

When and Where Did the Plane Crash Occur?

Timeline

The chain of events on 29 March 2025 unfolded rapidly in a remote mountain valley:

  • Approximately 1:00pm — Emergency location transmitter alert received by Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre
  • Approximately 1:30pm — Emergency services arrived at the crash site east of Lake Hāwea
  • 3:30–3:45pm — Critically injured survivor helicoptered to Dunedin Hospital
  • 1 March 2025 — Police formally identified Ivan Peter Van de Water

Location Specifics

The crash site is the Dingleburn Valley, a rugged and sparsely populated area on the eastern side of Lake Hāwea, roughly 13 kilometres north of Wānaka in Central Otago. The terrain’s remoteness complicated the rescue operation, requiring air evacuation rather than ground transport.

The paradox

The very remoteness that makes Dingleburn Valley a scenic flying destination also stretched emergency response times — crews needed cutting equipment just to reach the survivor, and the helicopter evacuation took nearly three hours from the initial alert.

What Is Known About the Cause?

Circumstances

The crash occurred under unknown circumstances. The aircraft was a private light plane flying as part of an AOPA NZ organised event. No registration or manufacturer serial number details have been publicly released for the aircraft.

The Aviation Safety Network entry for the incident was created and updated multiple times on 29 March 2025, with its confidence rating noted as based on news and unofficial sources.

Investigation Status

Police are making inquiries on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and the death has been referred to the Coroner. AOPA NZ is cooperating with the investigation. No findings have been published as of early April 2025.

What to watch

The Coroner’s assessment will be the first official determination of cause. Given the remote location and the aircraft’s destruction, investigators may rely heavily on wreckage analysis and witness accounts from other AOPA participants.

Investigators face the challenge of reconstructing events from a destroyed aircraft in an isolated location.

Community Impact and Response to the Crash

Local Mourning

The Gore community is in mourning. Ivan van de Water was described as a well-respected businessman whose efforts shaped the town’s commercial district. Local reporting captures the depth of loss felt across the town.

Gore is reeling after confirmation a ‘well-respected’ member of the community was the person killed.

— Otago Daily Times

The crash has also resonated in Wānaka, where Van de Water lived and where the AOPA event originated. The friendship between Van de Water and survivor Don Grant, described as long-standing, adds a personal dimension to the tragedy for those who knew both men.

Official Statements

Police have expressed their condolences to Van de Water’s family and confirmed they are working with the CAA to establish the circumstances of the crash. AOPA NZ has stated its cooperation with investigators but has not provided further public comment on the incident details.

Bottom line: Ivan van de Water’s death leaves a visible gap in Gore’s business community, and the investigation’s outcome will matter not just to his family and Don Grant but to the broader New Zealand private aviation community watching how AOPA event safety is scrutinised.

Timeline of the Lake Hāwea Plane Crash

Date Event
29 March 2025, ~1:00pm Emergency beacon activated; Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre receives alert
29 March 2025, ~1:30pm Emergency services arrive at crash site east of Lake Hāwea
29 March 2025, ~3:30–3:45pm Critically injured survivor helicoptered to Dunedin Hospital
29 March 2025 Police establish scene guard; crash site preserved overnight
1 March 2025 Police formally identify Ivan Peter Van de Water; death referred to Coroner

What We Know — and What We Don’t

Confirmed

  • One fatality: Ivan Peter Van de Water, 65
  • One critically injured: Don Grant
  • Crash occurred 29 March 2025 in Dingleburn Valley
  • Aircraft was a private light plane
  • Flight was part of an AOPA NZ event
  • Police scene guard remained overnight
  • Investigation underway with Coroner and CAA involvement

Unconfirmed

  • Exact cause of the crash
  • Aircraft make, model, and registration
  • Which occupant was piloting
  • Weather conditions at time of crash
  • Don Grant’s current medical status
  • Full details of AOPA event participants

Key Statements

Police extend their condolences to his family at this difficult time.

— NZ Police official statement

Gore is reeling after confirmation a ‘well-respected’ member of the community was the person killed.

— Otago Daily Times reporting

Related reading: Portier New Zealand Limited · Air NZ Arrivals Dunedin

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Frequently asked questions

What type of aircraft crashed near Lake Hawea?

The aircraft was described as a private light plane. Specific make and model have not been publicly released, and no registration details are available in public records (Aviation Safety Network).

Has the cause of the crash been determined?

No. The crash occurred under unknown circumstances. Police are conducting inquiries on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority, and the death has been referred to the Coroner (Mirage News).

Where is Lake Hāwea in relation to Wānaka?

Lake Hāwea lies east of the crown of Lake Wānaka in Central Otago, New Zealand. The crash occurred in the Dingleburn Valley on the eastern side of Lake Hāwea, approximately 13 kilometres north of Wānaka.

What is the latest on the injured person?

Don Grant, a Central Otago man, was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital in critical condition following the crash. His current medical status has not been publicly updated since the incident (Otago Daily Times).

Are there updates on the crash investigation?

Police confirmed Ivan Peter Van de Water’s identity on 1 March 2025 and stated they are making inquiries on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority. The death has been referred to the Coroner. AOPA NZ is cooperating with investigators. No findings have been published.

Who confirmed the details of the incident?

Multiple New Zealand news outlets reported on the crash, citing Police statements and official releases. Key sources include Mirage News (which published the NZ Police release), Otago Daily Times (local reporting), 1News (emergency response details), and NZ Herald (victim profile and AOPA context).

Was the crash near Omarama?

No. The crash occurred in the Dingleburn Valley east of Lake Hāwea, approximately 13 kilometres north of Wānaka. Omarama is a separate town further south in the Waitaki Valley. The confusion likely arises because both locations are in the Central Otago region popular with pilots.