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Trampers are being urged to sign intentions books in Department of Conservation huts after an Auckland man spent six days stranded by a river and efforts to find him were hampered by a lack of information.
The man was found huddled on a bank beside Ngaruroro River in Hawkes Bay on Monday, without food and freezing.
Rising floodwaters had trapped him on a tramp and he had been waiting for help for six days.
Police criticised the man for not making entries in the books at DoC huts he passed on his journey along the river, saying he would have been found much sooner if he had.
"It's essential that anyone going into the bush or any open country leave their details in the DoC hut books, regardless of whether they stay there or not," Hawkes Bay search and rescue co-ordinator Detective Constable Marty James said.
"The books are there for a reason - to track the movements of people."
Mr James said searchers checked the books in four huts along the river and found no entries from the man, despite his plans to take that route. He was eventually spotted from a helicopter.
Mr James said that to the man's credit, he had left travel details with a friend and his employer, and when he failed to return from his trip, his friend contacted police.
Mr James said it was also advisable for trampers to carry locator beacons, especially if tramping alone.
And DoC advises them to check the latest track conditions at the nearest DoC office before setting out.
