Hunters stun rescuers by returning to bush

The Tenon Rescue Helicopter which flew the stranded hunters out of the Ureweras.

Two Auckland hunters winched by helicopter from a hut in the Urewera Ranges after becoming stranded "bewildered" their rescuers by returning to the bush only hours later.

The Tenon Rescue Helicopter flew from Rotorua with search and rescue personnel and police to find the hunters, aged 55 and 33.

The men, from the North Shore and Warkworth respectively, had been due back from a hunting trip at the weekend, having entered the area last Wednesday.

However, heavy snow and rain late in the week forced them to take refuge in the Mid Okahu hut.

They became isolated from their vehicle after the Okahu stream rose to a level that helicopter pilot Barry Vincent called a "raging torrent".

Fallen debris, including large trees strewn across State Highway 38, had blocked the road in and out of the bush. Vegetation had been "absolutely devastated" by the large amount of snow in the area.

The hunters were trapped, and when help arrived they elected to leave the area.

Rescuers described them as "safe and well".

On reaching Murupara, the men told police they wanted to return to the bush to get the vehicle they had left behind.

When they left, it was understood they were being accompanied by another person.

The trio had a chainsaw they intended using to clear a path to the hut.

The head of Rotorua's search and rescue team, Detective Sergeant John Wilson, said he would have expected the men to "go home and let nature take its course" before trying to recover their car.

"The weather is still lousy in there." He said that considering the condition of the river and the road, the men would have little chance of returning with their vehicle.

Detective Sergeant Vincent said their actions were "bizarre".

Four crew had spent around five hours bringing the pair out of the bush.

"You start to wonder ... "

Yesterday's two-hour helicopter mission would have cost $4000.

Detective Sergeant Vincent said the police would pick up the tab.