Search teams have found a tourist who had been missing for two days in Paparoa National Park in "freezing" conditions.
The 28-year-old was located on Monday afternoon and was being taken by helicopter to Grey Base Hospital where he will be assessed for mild hypothermia, police said.
The man has been visiting New Zealand for three weeks on a working holiday.
He was reported missing by a friend about 8.45pm on Saturday after he failed to return to his accommodation after heading off alone to walk up Mount Bovis, behind Cave Creek, in the Paparoa Range at 8am.
Family members are travelling to New Zealand and were due to arrive on the West Coast tomorrow.
The man was unprepared to stay overnight and initial searches, including with heat-seeking equipment, couldn't find him.
Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Watson, of Greymouth, said yesterday morning the alpine cliff rescue team had found tracks and places where the missing man had appeared to "bum slide" down a hillside.
They followed the trail as far as they could, but it ended, probably because of hard packed ice.
Land-based search and rescue teams, including specialist dogs, were sent into the area this morning.
Snr Sgt Watson said the Paparoa Range tops had snow and the conditions there were "freezing". The past two nights had been clear and frosty. He said the man was dressed only for a day tramp, and was not carrying a locator beacon.
Experienced Barrytown tramper Stewart Robertson said the Mount Bovis walk was a 10km round trip, involving a 3500ft ascent. There was no track and trampers have to find their way by markers.
"Cyclone Ita knocked over lots of trees on the route. Locals have re-marked with dazzle paint spots and pink tape, but there is still ample scope to wander off-route, especially on the descent," Mr Robertson said.
"The cyclone damage calls for a lot of ducking and diving around fallen trees so now takes longer than expected."
Mr Robertson said he had walked up Mount Bovis eight times, including once since the cyclone.
"At the best of times, route finding is challenging and on the tops, an extra challenge in mist."
- Greymouth Star
