Land rescue

At 7 p.m on Saturday 14th July Police Search and Rescue were advised that a 50 year old male had injured his knee while tramping in the Tararua Range. The male and his tramping party that included his 16 year old daughter and two of her friends had made it to Te Matawai Hut. The hut is one days walk east of Levin in the western Tararua Range.

At about 10 a.m on Sunday 15th July the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter went into the area but due to wind, rain and cloud were unable to reach the hut.

A member of Land SAR New Zealand was dropped as close as possible to the hut and walked the two hours to the hut with extra food.

The 16 year old daughter of the 50 year old male has also injured her toe and is also unable to walk out.

Yesterday the Land SAR member has walked from the hut with the two able bodied girls and made it out of the bush at 4.30 pm. The girls were wet and tired but OK.

The weather has improved in the Tararua Range today and the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter flew to Te Matawai Hut with a Paramedic on board and brought the 50 year old male and his 16 year old daughter out of the hills.