Missing three found safe and well in Ureweras

By JULIET ROWAN

Good news may have been in short supply for Bay of Plenty flood victims yesterday, but searchers were happy to find several missing people in the Urewera Ranges.

A 56-year-old Palmerston North man, his 11-year-old daughter and her friend were found safe and well on the edge of a swollen stream yesterday. Smoke alerted a police search and rescue team in a helicopter to the three.

They were reported missing by family in Hamilton.

The Rotorua-based Tenon Rescue Helicopter began its search yesterday morning, spotting the man's car parked at Ruatahuna in the ranges.

But the helicopter was unable to find the three after landing at huts along the Whakatane River. When the rescue team eventually spotted them, they were stuck on one side of the raging stream, unable to cross.

They were airlifted to Murupara.

The helicopter crew reported seeing at least a dozen major slips on the main road into Ruatahuna during the search.

Several vehicles were trapped between slips so the helicopter returned to the township, which was cut off, to check on the occupants.

"Fortunately there were no injuries and they seemed to be enjoying some local hospitality," said the helicopter pilot, Barry Vincent.

Food at Ruatahuna was running low, he said.

The helicopter planned to return to the Ureweras at daylight today to pick up a sick boy.

The boy, who was ill but uninjured, was at a farmhouse with his family in a remote part of the ranges.

The helicopter crew learned of his condition late last night, but decided it was too dangerous to attempt a rescue during the night.

"Where he is is very rugged, mountainous terrain," Mr Vincent said.