Museum head's death puzzle for police

Seddon Bennington's skills have been widely praised. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The sons of former Te Papa chief executive Seddon Bennington are returning home for their father's funeral as police try to figure out how the experienced tramper and his companion were caught out on the freezing Tararua Ranges.

Dr Bennington's body was found yesterday by a specialist alpine search and rescue team from Levin about 9km into the Tararua Ranges.

His tramping companion, 54-year-old Marcella Jackson, also known as Rosie, was found 15 minutes later about 300m away.

The pair were supposed to return home on Sunday but were found a kilometre short of their destination, Kime Hut.

They had planned to spend the night at the hut after setting out from Otaki Forks on Saturday.

Central police communications manager Kim Perks said last night police did not know if Dr Bennington or Mrs Jackson had been carrying cellphones or locator beacons.

"But certainly we know he had not had any contact with anyone since he went into the ranges," she said.

Yesterday, family, friends and Te Papa staff were coming to terms with the loss of Dr Bennington and Mrs Jackson.

Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson said Dr Bennington would be sorely missed.

"Seddon Bennington served Te Papa and the people of New Zealand well over his seven years as chief executive," said Mr Finlayson.

"He brought wide international experience and leadership to the role."

Tributes also came from around the world.

Te Papa acting chief executive Michelle Hippolite said the international museum world was small and close knit, and Dr Bennington was well known.

"Seddon worked a lot with the Australian museums, and we've received messages from there," she said.

Other messages had come from the United States and Europe.

Te Papa board chairman John Judge said Dr Bennington "continued to push the boundaries of museum excellence".

He said Te Papa staff were deeply saddened by their colleague's death.

"Seddon's contribution to New Zealand's cultural sector is significant, his international reputation is to be admired and he will be greatly missed by many people."

Aotea Pathology chief executive Karen Wood said Mrs Jackson had worked at the Wellington clinic for 12 years.

"The staff were obviously devastated and upset when we got the news this morning," she said. "She will be sorely missed."

Ms Wood did not know if Mrs Jackson went tramping often but said she was a keen walker.

She had no children and her husband had died a few years ago.

Dr Bennington's two sons are in Australia.

Central area police chief Inspector Mark Harrison said it appeared the pair had strayed from the track and were in an area of snow-covered open alpine terrain with rocks and tussock, known as Bridge Peak.

"There are no obvious signs of a fall or accident and it appears a strong possibility that they were overcome by the weather conditions," Mr Harrison said.

Conditions had been "extremely atrocious" for several days, and snow had been waist-deep in some parts of the ranges.

Four search and rescue teams made up of volunteers and police searched throughout Tuesday and some stayed in the ranges overnight.

Their efforts were hampered early yesterday by heavy rain, low fog and mist but an Air Force Iroquois helicopter flew several more searchers into the ranges to help.

Tararua Tramping Club president Chris Munn said the area where Dr Bennington and Mrs Jackson were last seen on Saturday afternoon, on the track above Field Hut, was a popular spot for trampers.

The area had several huts, most about four hours' hike from one another.

But the terrain was challenging in bad weather, particularly when it was snowing, as snow obscured foot patterns and guide poles.

Mr Munn said that at this time of year, trampers in the Tararua Ranges should be equipped to cope with "extremely changeable" weather.

The Department of Conservation website warns that the ranges are exposed to freezing southerlies that have caused deaths.

The bodies of Dr Bennington and Mrs Jackson were yesterday airlifted by helicopter to Palmerston North Hospital.