The body of an experienced climber who died on the country's highest mountain has been recovered.
The climber fell to his death on Aoraki-Mt Cook yesterday.
A four-strong police alpine rescue team, including a pilot, flew from Wanaka to the mountain this morning.
The team established a staging post near Cinerama Col and carried out a scene examination before undertaking the safe recovery of the man and his belongings, Canterbury police said.
The climber was part of a group from Canterbury that left Plateau Hut early yesterday morning to climb the peak's east ridge.
The group raised the alarm about 7.30am after one of its members fell as the group traversed the ridge.
Hugh Logan, Canterbury Mountaineering Club president, said deaths on the east ridge were rare. Only four had been recorded on the route since 1938.
"It hasn't got any threats from ice cliffs but it's a challenging climb," Mr Logan said.
Police were investigating the incident and the death had been referred to the coroner.
