The hunter attempted to trek for over 12 hours to the remote Top Butler Hut.
West Coast police search and rescue lead Senior Sergeant Mark Kirkwood said when the man became ‘‘bluffed’’ in the dark he activated his personal locator beacon.
‘‘The weather was extremely poor. The rescue helicopter was deployed but couldn’t winch him out due to the weather,’’ Snr Sgt Kirkwood said.
An alpine cliff rescue team was flown to the area and made their way in the darkness to the exhausted hunter and walked him the rest of the way to the six-bunk hut.
‘‘He was given some advice about looking at the long-range weather forecast,’’ Snr Sgt Kirkwood said.
The area south of Hokitika was under an orange alert from Friday, 400mm to 500mm of rain being forecast to fall about the ranges from 2am on Sunday to 8pm yesterday.
The Department of Conservation warns on its website people should not stay at Top Butler Hut if heavy rain is forecast as the hut itself can be at risk of flooding.
The visitor was about 12 hours’ walk in from State Highway 6, and one or two hours away from the hut when he called for help.
The rescue team and the tourist had to wait out the storm in the hut and were flown out the following day.
‘‘I know it was a long weekend ... but if there’s half a metre of rain due, maybe consider changing your plans and staying inside,’’ Snr Sgt Kirkwood said. — Arianna Stewart
