Climbers had a 'gung-ho' attitude, inquest told

The photo of Hiroki Ogawa and Nicole Sutton used in the service sheet at their funeral.

A tramping group's decision to climb Mt Taranaki despite worsening weather has been labelled "gung-ho" by one of the group.

Decision-making around the fatal trip, which resulted in two deaths, is being analysed in the coroner's court in New Plymouth.

Nicole Sutton and Hiroki Ogawa died from hypothermia after getting stranded in a blizzard and staying in a snow cave on the mountain on Labour weekend last year.

An experienced tramper, who climbed with the couple, said they knew when they set off in the morning that the weather was set to pack in at 3pm.

John Salisbury said they should have made a u-turn when they realised they wouldn't reach the summit until 6pm.

He claimed the group had a "gung-ho" attitude, as it didn't have enough snow climbing equipment.

He didn't understand why the couple made the fatal decision to hunker down for the night, rather than head back down like he did.

Yet he acknowledged Mr Ogawa saved his life, by helping him traverse a dangerous part of the climb in the snow.

The families' lawyer, Hanne Janes, said Mr Ogawa and Miss Sutton were experienced trampers, who were very meticulous about everything they did.

She questioned whether police should have had a more comprehensive list of different rescue aircraft capabilities at the ready.

Ms Janes said the two helicopters initially deployed during the rescue couldn't cope with the weather, and questioned whether a different aircraft could have been sourced more quickly.

The couple had been climbing as part of the New Zealand Alpine Club's annual trip to the mountain.

Ms Sutton, 29, and Dr Ogawa, 31, died after sheltering in an ice trench near the summit for two nights in bad weather.

A search and rescue party reached the pair early on the morning of Monday, October 28, but found Dr Ogawa already dead.

Ms Sutton died before rescuers were able to get her off the mountain.

Their bodies were winched off by the Air Force the following day.

The inquest is expected to continue for the whole week.