Chopper rescues climbers in Wairarapa

Two Wellington women who found themselves trapped on the Pinnacle Rock formations on the South Wairarapa coast were lucky a tourist heard their cries for help.

The pair had decided to climb one of the cliff faces at the popular tourist attraction on Sunday afternoon but got trapped about three-quarters up.

They managed to get the attention of people at the viewing platform, who called police.

Police called the Life Flight Trust, which dispatched the Westpac rescue helicopter to winch the women to safety.

Crewman Colin Larsen said it apparently had been a family outing but the pair had decided to go off on their own, rather than take the viewing platform route.

"They got themselves stuck but they managed to attract the attention of someone at the viewing platform."

The helicopter's paramedic was able to winch down and attach a rescue harness, taking each woman up in turn.

"Luckily it wasn't windy."

They had to be careful about height, with so much loose rock.

"We had about 85ft [26 metres] of cable, so rotor wash wasn't going to knock anything down on them."

He said neither was injured.

"They were very relieved to be taken off the side of the cliff."

They were flown to a nearby car park, where police returned them to their family.