Body of cliff-fall victim left overnight

The body of an Australian woman who fell 60m to her death while walking on a clifftop in West Auckland yesterday is to be retrieved today.

The Herald understands the 43-year-old was in New Zealand on a working holiday. She was walking with her friend along the cliff at Mercer Bay, between Piha and Karekare, when she lost her footing about 2pm.

It is unclear whether the area where she fell was fenced but a local resident said there are signs warning people to take care.

Her body remained at the bottom of the cliff at nightfall.

Senior Sergeant Ross Hunter of Henderson police said dangerous conditions prevented emergency services from reaching the woman before dark.

"We can't see her from the top and haven't been able to get down there," he said.

"It's too dangerous for the chopper and we're still assessing how we will get to her without endangering our staff; it's not a direct winch up and down."

He said a large bush fire this year had made the soil unstable and an overhang on the cliff was likely to cause problems for abseilers.

The woman's next-of-kin in Australia had yet to be contacted and her friend had not been interviewed.

"Understandably, she's pretty distressed."

Mr Hunter said search-and-rescue teams would continue the operation today.