A six-year-old girl was choppered to hospital after being bitten by a white-tailed spider on Saturday.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Rakaunui, a remote location to the west of Kawhia, on Saturday morning after the girl suffered the spider bite on Friday night.

She subsequently come down with an infection from it, and was flown to Waikato Hospital for treatment.

According to the Ministry of Health, a white-tailed spider bite can be painful but is not considered poisonous.

Once the initial burning feeling, swelling, redness and itchiness at the bite site goes away, there are no long-lasting effects.

According to ACC figures, around 300 people a year seek medical help for white-tail spider bites, at a cost of $65,000 to $80,000.



The rescue chopper was also sent to Hampton Downs on Saturday afternoon, to retrieve a 47-year-old woman who was riding a motorbike that collided with another bike when she was doing an estimated 180kmh.

The woman was thrown from the bike and landed on the track. She suffered multiple bruises and abrasions and a suspected fracture to her hand.

Accompanied by her partner, the Tauranga resident was also flown to Waikato Hospital for treatment.