29 Dec 2016

Busy afternoon for search and rescue crews

5:40 pm on 29 December 2016

It's been a busy afternoon for search and rescue, with three rescue operations across the country in the past few hours.

Maritime NZ spokesman Vince Cholewa said three trampers have been airlifted out of Mt Aspiring National Park.

The trampers came across each other on a patch of difficult terrain and jointly decided it would be dangerous to continue.

None of the three were injured.

Mr Cholewa said in another incident, a 40-year-old man was airlifted from Stewart Island and taken to Invercargill Hospital with minor injuries, after being discovered on a walking track by other trampers today.

In the North Island, a mountain biker who fell on a trail near Taumarunui has been flown to Hamilton Hospital with head injuries.