Driver survives 200m plunge off Rimutakas

A motorist survived a 200m plunge off Rimutaka Hill, north of Wellington, this morning.

Police were called at 10.03am after a rental car crashed through a fence and down a bank, about a kilometre below the Rimutaka Hill summit, Inspector Ken Climo, of central police communications, said.

The car was hanging "very precariously" and emergency services had to secure the car with ropes before being lowered to check on the driver.

Mr Climo said the driver was being brought up the bank to the road, and would be taken to the hill's summit where a helicopter was waiting to transport them to hospital.

The driver was conscious but their injuries were "sufficient to warrant the use of the helicopter", he said.

Both lanes of the road were closed following the incident but have since re-opened. Commuters should expect delays.

- NZPA