Latest news with #tramping
RNZ News
09-07-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Tramper and dog winched to safety from freezing Tararua Ranges
The Royal New Zealand Air Force deployed a helicopter to rescue a freezing tramper and his dog in the Tararua Ranges north of Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Supplied A personal locator beacon has helped a near-hypothermic tramper and his dog be rescued from freezing conditions in the Tararua Ranges. On Monday Wellington man David Graham, an experienced tramper, and his Kelpie, Winnie, were on the second night of a tramp heading toward the Mid-King Bivvy, when the weather closed in with thick cloud reducing visibility to less than 20 metres. Unable to find shelter Graham and his dog settled under a large rock, which had icicles hanging off it that would provide water if needed. Graham said he'd since been told a hut in the area was notoriously difficult to find because the track had overgrown. By 9pm the cloud had lifted, bringing dew down and freezing Graham's sleeping bag. He then called emergency services and also set off his personal locator beacon. A Defence Force spokesperson said it was initially decided a Land Search and Rescue team would walk in the next day, but at 2am Graham contacted police again concerned about his health should rain set in. Winnie the Kelpie dog before she and her owner, Wellington tramper David Graham were rescued from the Tararua Ranges on Tuesday morning. Photo: RNZ / Supplied An NH90 helicopter from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base in Ohakea left for the Tararua Ranges by 4am on Tuesday. "The next thing I heard, it was about 4.30am, the chopper coming through," Graham said. Graham and his dog were winched into the chopper. "They took Winnie up first, which was lovely. They were very thoughtful and brought a specific bag for the dog," he said. "As soon as I got in the chopper I was given the best hot chocolate I've ever had in my life. They gave me a Crunchie bar and put a heated pack down my front." For medic Corporal Sam Wardhaugh, it was his first time winching in a search and rescue mission after gaining his qualification a week earlier. No.3 Squadron NH90 pilot, Squadron Leader Andrew Stewart, said Graham had done the right thing by taking a personal locator beacon with him, as it had meant they were able to fly almost directly to him. "When we arrived he shone his torch so we could see him easily," Stewart said. Stewart said the terrain was steep with bluffs directly below where Graham was with thick low cloud sitting on the eastern side of the ranges. "The temperature was pretty much on freezing - it was 0.5 degrees Celsius when we were up there where he was." After landing, Graham was assessed by medics who found early symptoms of hypothermia had begun to affect his feet. Following the rescue Graham said was was looking forward to being reunited with his wife and baby. "I was pretty tired, but I really appreciated all the expertise from everyone. I can't imagine all the complexities of pulling together something like that at 4am." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Bookings for Milford Track sell out in 40 minutes
Bookings to take a walk on the Milford Track went off without a hitch today, says DOC. Photo: Supplied / DoC / Graham Dainty Demand for the Milford Track remains high, with the Great Walk selling out in just over half an hour today. The booking system has faced multiple crashes and false starts over the past two years , often coinciding with the opening of the popular Great Walk and causing frustration for trampers and tourism businesses. This prompted the Department of Conservation to upgrade its website and add an online queue system to ease the pressure. Director of heritage and visitors Cat Wilson said the new system coped well. "Really pleased that people have had a much better experience," she said. "We had 11,800 people queuing in the lobby at around 9:30 just as bookings opened and they were all into the booking system to make bookings for the 7000 spots on the Milford." It was all done and dusted in about 40 minutes. The feedback had been positive and Wilson was thrilled that the bookings were being made in a seamless way. There have been 23,500 bookings made so far across the Great Walks with the Routeburn and Milford tracks both experiencing high demand. Cat Wilson encouraged anyone who missed out to keep an eye out for cancellations or check out the other Great Walks on offer. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11-05-2025
- RNZ News
Search resumes for missing tramper in Milford Sound
The search for Eli Sweeting was initially called off, due to bad weather. Photo: 123rf Dozens of police and volunteers are continuing the search for a British man, who has been missing for a week in Milford Sound. Eli Sweeting failed to return from a tramping day trip to climb Mitre Peak last Sunday. The search was called off on Thursday, due to bad weather, but resumed a day later. A Land Search and Rescue team stayed near the mountain overnight, so it could restart the search early this morning. About 40 people, including police and volunteers, were involved in today's search efforts. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
08-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Search for missing Milford Sound tramper suspended as heavy rain weather hits
The search has been suspended because of bad weather. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton The search for a missing tramper in Milford Sound has been suspended because of bad weather. British man Eli Sweeting failed to return from a day trip to climb Mitre Peak on Sunday. A heavy rain warning and strong wind watch is in place for the area today. MetService is forecasting peak rates of rain of 20-30mm/h for Fiordland about and north of Doubtful Sound on Thursday afternon and evening and said thunderstorms were possible. The orange level warning said streams and rivers may rise rapidly and surface flooding and slips were possible. There was a minimal chance of upgrading to a red warning.
RNZ News
06-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Weather limits search for missing tramper at Milford Sound
The tramper was missing since going on a day trip on Sunday. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton Weather conditions are limiting the search for a tramper missing at Milford Sound. A ground search was continuing for the man on Wednesday but poor weather was preventing helicopters from flying. The solo tramper failed to return after a planned day trip to climb Mitre Peak on Sunday, sparking a search and rescue operation shortly before midnight Monday. Police said search teams were mindful of the tricky terrain and weather warnings, which could potentially hamper search efforts. An orange level rain warning for Fiordland comes into force from 10pm on Wednedsay. On Tuesday, 60 volunteers, 10 police personnel and helicopter staff had been searching for the man, with local support from tourism operator Real NZ. By evening, search teams had not found any items that could help narrow the search area, Detective Tracy Ward said. Land Search and Rescue field and dog teams had been in the area, along with alpine cliff rescue teams to search in the steep terrain. The man was experienced in the outdoors and believed he had suitable clothing and provisions, Ward said. Police had spoken to a number of people who encountered the man in the vicinity of Mitre Peak on Sunday, but have appealed for any others to contact them. They could contact police by making a report online, or by calling 105, referencing the event number P062448221. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
