A 14-year-old student who went missing on Mt Taranaki has been found.
Hawera High School student Phillip Pierson went missing about noon yesterday while on a supervised navigation exercise on Mt Taranaki.
He was found about 11am by a Department of Conservation worker in the area at the time checking stoat traps. The worker was aware of the search and was looking out for him.
The boy was cold and wet but uninjured and was being checked by ambulance staff at the scene.
A search and rescue operation began yesterday afternoon with search parties on foot, the Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter and an RNZAF helicopter.
Inspector Keith Borrell said finding the boy so quickly is fantastic.
"We are extremely relieved to find Phillip, it's a relief for both police and his family that he's back and in one piece," he said.
