A Canadian man tramping the length of the country has been found safe and well after it was feared he was missing.
The anxious family of 26-year-old Stephen Proctor contacted police yesterday because his GPS tracking device had not mapped his movements since Thursday.
Mr Proctor, who is completing the 3000km Te Araroa Trail from Bluff to Cape Reinga, was found safe in the Royal Hut near Lake Tekapo in the South Island this morning.
Inspector Dave Gaskin said a farmer from Mesopotamia Station at the northern end of the Rangitata Valley flew his helicopter to the hut this morning and found Mr Proctor, whose GPS device is believed to have malfunctioned.
"We've managed to get in touch [with his family in Canada] and they're pretty happy right now," Mr Gaskin said.
Mr Proctor would continue on his trek, he said.
