Police have found the bodies of two men missing in Tongariro National Park for almost a month.
Hundreds of volunteers, specialist search teams, and the police dive squad searched the area after the men abandoning a stolen car and fled into dense bush on 12 August after a police pursuit.
The only traces had been the remains of a campfire and some discarded clothing.
The men's whānau have been informed and the deaths have been referred to the coroner.
"It is important that we have been able to bring the men back to their whānau to provide them with a sense of closure at this difficult time," Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said.
However, poor weather and dense bush was making removing the bodies difficult and it could take some time, police said.
The police dive squad searching the area. Photo: NZ Police
