19 Jul 2009

Funerals planned for two who died tramping

4:03 pm on 19 July 2009

Funeral arrangements have been made for the chief executive of Te Papa who was found dead in the Tararua Ranges last Wednesday.

Seddon Bennington and his tramping partner Marcella Jackson died from hypothermia.

They had set out from Otaki Forks on Saturday for an overnight tramp but were caught in freezing conditions a kilometre short of a hut in the Tararua ranges.

A service for Dr Bennington will be held on Rongomaraeroa, Te Papa's marae, this Wednesday at 1pm.

His casket will be brought onto the marae on Tuesday afternoon at 4pm and people can pay their respects that evening.

Doctor Bennington's family is thanking the police in Levin and members of the search and rescue teams involved.

A service for Mrs Jackson will be held at St Andrews on The Terrace in Wellington on Tuesday.