Stranded West Coast trampers rescued

Two trampers have been rescued via helicopter after being stranded at a hut on the West Coast where there's been heavy rain.

• West Coast: High alert, flood fears for Buller 

The bad weather had hampered a search and rescue operation earlier today.

A  police spokeswoman said police were contacted by the group about 6.30pm yesterday stuck at a hut at Cassel Flat in Karangarua in Westland National Park on the West Coast.

"They are uninjured, just unable to leave due to the Karangarua River flooding."

The pair were uplifted by a helicopter at 10.45am today and there were no reports of injury, she said.

Heavy rain warnings have been in place in Buller and Westland since yesterday, where the MetService has issued a rare Red weather warning, the most severe warning available.

That warning was updated at 10am, remained red, and was in place for 38 hours from being issued until midnight tomorrow.