A climber who plunged hundreds of metres to his death from Mt Aspiring near Wanaka was a well known businessman.
John Bernard Pawson, 48, fell 800m from near the summit while climbing in good conditions on Thursday.
He was climbing the mountain along the technically demanding southwest ridge with his Wanaka climbing companion, award-winning photographer and writer Martin Hill.
The pair were not roped together and Mr Hill was left stranded about 200m from the summit, the Otago Daily Times reported.
A team from the Wanaka alpine cliff Search and Rescue team retrieved the body and Mr Hill by helicopter later that day.
Mr Pawson was a well-known community figure, businessman, farmer and advocate for the environment in Wanaka and Otago.
Mr Pawson was founder of the Alp Sports label, and a co-founder with Jan Cameron of the multimillion-dollar alpine goods company Kathmandu.
He was vice-president of Otago Federated Farmers from 2006, chairman of the Upper Clutha Tracks Trust,
Born and raised in Upper Hutt, Mr Pawson was an experienced climber who had climbed Mt Aspiring earlier this year via the northwest ridge route.
The death has been referred to the coroner.
