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Six missing Australian climbers have been found alive in Mt Cook National Park and taken to safety by helicopter.
A spokesman for the Rescue Coordination Centre said they were spotted at 9.45am by a search and rescue helicopter.
The two women and four men have now been airlifted
to Mt Cook Village Base where they have had medical checks and are said to be "well with no injuries".
The group was located after a weather window allowed a helicopter to get into the air shortly after 9.30am and hone in on the trampers' beacon's signal, which was set off on Thursday night.
A search was started after the trampers set off an emergency beacon alert from Metelille Glacier on Thursday night.
Rescue workers were forced to return to Mt Cook village yesterday afternoon as the weather closed in and an extreme avalanche warning was issued.
But Rescue Co-Ordination Centre spokeswoman Christl McMillan said today the weather had cleared up and rescuers would continue their search at 7am.
Two helicopters carrying specialist alpine search and rescue teams on board, and the winch-equipped Christchurch Westpac Helicopter to offer paramedic care would take part in the operation.
Two officials from Australia's High Commission in Wellington are flying Mount Cook Village today to offer help in the search for the two women and four men.
It was believed the Australians, understood to be from Sydney, were not guided and went into the mountains above Mount Cook Village six or seven days ago.
Australian authorities said last night the tourists' next-of-kin were being contacted.
Australian High Commission spokesman Alan Ball said two officials would travel to Mount Cook Village today to offer help.
"They will be going down to get a closer detail on what efforts are being made and what's going on, without interfering with the rescue effort, obviously," Mr Ball said.
He said the names of the group of two women and four men had been forwarded to customs officials to check arrival dates.
Mountaineer Mark Inglis, who lost both legs after a 14-day battle for survival on Mount Cook, said last night that the Australians had a good chance of survival if they stayed out of the wind and kept a level head.
"It's going to be cold, but if you've gone and prepared for more than one day, then there's every chance of doing well in these situations," he said.
"Experience is huge. It's everything.
"It's having the confidence to sometimes do nothing just build a cave and get in it and wait rather than stumbling around out in the storm."
The Australians had recorded their intention to traverse Annette Plateau from Barron Saddle to Mueller Hut, high up on the mountain.
Wintry weather
Meanwhile the wintry weather which has brought much of the country to a standstill is showing no signs of letting up.
The MetService warned today that snow, gale force winds and heavy would continue until at least Monday or Tuesday.
Heavy snow has closed dozens of roads in the South Island and the Desert Road on State Highway 1 in the North Island for much of the last two days causing many minor smashes.
There had been several minor crashes and Fernhill had been closed till grit trucks can clear the snow.
"If you're inexperienced driving in these conditions, don't drive," Sergeant Brian Cameron, of Queenstown, said.
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
