Father and son survive night in bush

A father and his seven-year-old son have been found after a cold, wet night in the Bay of Plenty bush, say police.

The pair were collecting piko piko fern around Lake Rotoma, 35km northeast of Rotorua, last night when they became lost, eastern Bay of Plenty search and rescue coordinator, Sergeant Andrew O'Reilly, said today.

Twelve search and rescue staff as well as police spent the night searching for them "in conditions that could only be described as disgusting" before they were found cold and wet, but otherwise unhurt, at 7.30am, he said.

"Last night's operation serves as a good reminder to people that if they are going into the bush - for whatever reason and in whatever conditions - to prepare for the absolute worst."

People going into he bush should check the forecast, have plenty of warm clothing and wet weather gear, take a compass, and tell someone where they are going and when they expect to return, Mr O'Reilly said.

- NZPA