Two climbers have died on New Zealand's highest peak, Aoraki, while two others from the same group were rescued.
Wellington, New Zealand — Two climbers have died on New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki, and two others from the same group have been rescued, authorities said Tuesday.
Police area commander Inspector Vicky Walker said the body of the deceased climber had been found and specialist search teams were working to recover it “in a challenging alpine environment”. The identity of the climber has not been made public.
Sergeant Kevin McEllane told the Timaru Herald the pair were tethered by a rope when they fell near the top of Aoraki, also known as Mt Cook.
Authorities learned late Monday night local time that four climbers needed help on a mountain on New Zealand's South Island. Walker said two of the climbers were rescued by helicopter early Tuesday morning.
they were unharmed. Search crews in two helicopters searched through the night for the other climbers, but they were found dead several hours later.
Aoraki is 3,724 meters (12,218 feet) above sea level and is part of the Southern Alps, a scenic icy mountain range that runs through the South Island. The village of the same name at its foot has become a destination for domestic and international tourists.
This peak is popular with experienced climbers. The terrain is technically challenging due to crevasses, avalanche hazards, changeable weather, and glacier movement.
More than 240 deaths have been recorded on the mountain and surrounding national park since the early 20th century. Dozens of people who died on the mountain have yet to be found.
These include three men (two Americans and one Canadian) who were believed to have died in Aoraki in December 2024. The Americans, Kurt Blair, 56, from Colorado, and Carlos Romero, 50, from California, were certified mountaineering guides.
The climbers had been missing for five days, but New Zealand authorities called off the search after discovering their belongings, saying they may have fallen to their deaths.