Head of Northland search and rescue, senior sergeant Cliff Metcalfe. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Head of Northland search and rescue, senior sergeant Cliff Metcalfe. Photo / Peter de Graaf
Five people rescued from a section of the Te Araroa Trail near Mangamuka were caught out by the amount of time needed to complete the walk.
Northland Police Search and Rescue boss Senior sergeant Cliff Metcalfe said five women from Auckland, aged in their 60s were rescued on Saturday eveningafter becoming lost in bush near Mangamuka.
He said the group had planned to do a walk in the Herekino Forest, near Kaitaia, but when they got to Kaitaia were told it was closed.
They opted for another walk through the Raetea Forest, which Department of Conservation information said would take 10 hours.
Metcalfe said the group started out at 7am, but at 6pm they had not reached the end and were wet, cold, tired and only had one torch so called 111.
Police Search and Rescue and Far North Search and Rescue responded.
"At 9pm two search teams deployed to the track," Metcalfe said.
He said searchers were able to use a phone belonging to one of the members of the group to determine the group's location. They were around 4km from the end of the track.
