Police are urging people to be better prepared when heading outdoors after a horror summer of large-scale back-country search operations and numerous fatalities. ‘‘Thankfully, the pair had sufficient ability to maintain their safety on the mountain overnight despite it being very uncomfortable and cold,’’ he said. Due to the weather conditions, rescue efforts were stood down overnight and the pair were rescued yesterday at 11.30am. One was an Australian citizen and the other was a dual citizen of New Zealand and Canada living in Australia. In early January, police recovered the body of Dunedin resident Connor Purvis, 20, who had died while tramping solo in the Mt Huxley region.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 13, 2026 18:12 UTC