Police have named a 62-year-old man who died after being stung by a swarm of wasps in the Marlborough Sounds.
Morris Robert Stretch, 62, died after disturbing a wasps' nest near Kenepuru Sound on Saturday morning.
He had probably been stung hundreds of times, Havelock police Senior Constable Andrew Wilson told Fairfax.
Mr Stretch had been collecting firewood with another man when they disturbed the nest, Sergeant Dave Houston of Wellington police maritime unit told NZ Newswire.
The men ran in different directions and Mr Stretch was dead when the other man found him.
Two to three people die from reactions to bee or wasp stings every year in New Zealand.
A post mortem examination will determine whether Mr Stretch died of an allergic reaction or other causes.
NZN