A 51-year-old man is recovering in Christchurch Hospital after eating tutu berries.

A hunter is recovering in Christchurch Hospital after being poisoned from eating toxic berries.

Emergency medicine specialist Dr Paul Gee said the 51-year-old man suffered seizures and required intensive care treatment after eating a significant amount of highly toxic tutu berries while hunting in the South Island. He was now recovering.

Gee said livestock deaths had been attributed to eating the berries – and there were even documented cases of circus elephant deaths.

Native Tutu shrubs were commonly found along bush tracks and riverbanks throughout New Zealand. During summer they produce purple and black berries of similar size to blueberries. Though they tasted sweet, they were poisonous. Most parts of the plant contains the poison tutin and there was no specific antidote.

A Canterbury District Health Board statement said there were instances where tourists had eaten the berries, resulings in collapses and seizures.

In almost all cases patients recovered, but deaths had been reported in the past, the statement said.

Trampers and day walkers were warned not to eat unidentified purple or black berries.

For first aid advice contact the National Poisons Centre on 0800 POISON (0800 764 766).