Rescuers have received confirmation the two climbers who spent two nights on Mt Cook/Aoraki in sub-zero temperatures are safe and due to walk out of the national park today.
The European men, both in their 20s, activated their emergency beacon on Friday afternoon with one of them reportedly suffering from hypothermia, but rescuers could not reach them because of bad weather.
They told Department of Conservation staff that after "warm food and hunkering down in a bivouac for the evening, upon reassessment of the situation yesterday morning, both felt fit to continue on their way.
The pair was spotted by a rescue helicopter at about 10.15am yesterday and gave the thumbs up sign, indicating they were in good shape.
"We were confident the two men were safe and well, but we could not stand down the search until we were 100 percent certain," Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand mission coordinator Chris Henshaw said today.
"They did all the right things by taking emergency communications equipment with them, making sure friends knew where they were headed, and raising the alarm when they had concerns for their safety."
The two men were climbing in a popular section of Middle Peak at 3500 metres.
The men were well equipped with sleeping bags and other survival gear.
