Police waiting to interview 'Stewart Island hermit'

Police hope to speak to a man they believe is the so-called Stewart Island hermit in the next few days after an unkempt man was flown to Southland Hospital in a serious condition at the weekend.

The 36-year-old former Invercargill man, who had been living rough on the island since early September, was found hungry and without boots in a Department of Conservation (DOC) hut at Abrahams Bay late on Sunday.

Stewart Island Eco Water Taxi owner Ian Wilson told the Otago Daily Times he picked up the man from the bay on the southern side of Paterson Inlet late on Sunday.

The man looked like he'd been in the bush for some time, was unkempt, smelled bad and hadn't eaten for four days.

"He could hardly walk," Mr Wilson said. "I think he was pretty lucky to be picked up when he was. I don't know how much longer he could have lasted."

Constable Nick Wells, of Halfmoon Bay, said the man was flown to Southland Hospital where police hoped to speak to him in a few days when his condition improved.

A hermit-like man living rough in the middle of Stewart Island was thought to have been responsible for thefts of food and equipment from DOC huts since September.

DOC southern islands area manager Andy Roberts said last week there had been brief sightings of the man who was "very wary of people".

Three DOC maintenance huts had been broken into. A pack, sleeping bag, clothes and enough food for the summer for DOC staff involved in a feral cat trapping programme had been stolen.

Mr Roberts said the hut where the man was found was a long walk from the nearest track. He had covered a large part of the rugged, wet and cold central Stewart Island area.

NZPA