Police are calling for better communication from people after tourists, who reported themselves lost then found their way out of their predicament, chose to not tell anyone about it. Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru, said a police communications centre was called by the American group about 3pm yesterday on an overseas cellphone. Police were out searching for the group for about 90 minutes when the search was called off after a centre staff member was able to reconnect with the original caller. By the time the centre staff member had contact with the tourists they were "long-gone'' from the scene. People should contact police if they find their way to safety on their own, he said, so searches can be called off.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 05, 2017 23:37 UTC