Four trampers have spent a night in freezing conditions, after getting lost on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
The group was still waiting to be choppered out on Sunday, after rescuers managed to track them down in the middle of the night.
Two of the trampers called police at 8.40pm on Saturday, and said they were walking in cold, snowy conditions, and had become separated from the other two from the group who had gone to Oturere hut.
Police located the trampers using the new 111 system, which uses GPS services and cell tower information to pin-point the caller.
The inexperienced trampers reported feeling cold, tired, and all their clothing was wet, Senior Constable Barry Sheperd said.
A rescue helicopter was dispatched, but conditions were too cloudy for it to land, and a search and rescue team was sent in on foot from near Ketetahi Hut.
It was a two-and-a-half hour walk to Oturere Hut, and during that time the two other trampers who had already arrived at the hut made contact by texting, Sen Const Sheperd said.
All four trampers were reunited shortly before midnight, after the pair in the hut went back out to find their friends, he said.
One of the group was so cold the other three had to carry her back to the hut about 2.30am.
The SAR team arrived at 2.45am to find one of the trampers hypothermic, Sen Const Sheperd said.
The rescuers then stayed at the hut overnight with the four friends.
Earlier this morning, a helicopter was dispatched to pick up the SAR volunteers and the trampers, he said.
The rescue is onoing.
