A climber has died after falling about 600 metres on Aoraki Mt Cook.
The man had been climbing and skiing near the Summit Ridge Porter Col route. It is believed he may have fallen 600m straight down.
Authorities were alerted at about 8.30am on Sunday and a rescue party was sent by helicopter.
The rescuers from the Department of Conservation Alpine rescue team brought the man's uninjured climbing partner down from the mountain by helicopter just before midday.
The body of the dead climber was recovered about half an hour later.
Police say the climbing pair, who were both from overseas, went into the park on Saturday to climb the mountain.
Climbing conditions at the time of the accident were good and the weather was fine. The men had been skiiing and traversing at an altitude of 3700 metres towards the lower summit of the mountain.
The pair are both described as very experienced and had successfully climbed the East Face of Aoraki Mt Cook as well as the Footstool area of the mountain last week.
