The New Zealand Alpine Club will carry out an independent review of its trip to Mt Taranaki after two climbers died over Labour weekend, it was announced today.
Nicole Sutton and Hiroki Ogawa spent two nights on the mountain, huddled in an ice trench, after the weather turned to blizzard near the summit.
Mr Ogawa was dead by the time rescuers reached them and Ms Sutton, who was unconscious when they arrived, died before they could get her down the mountain.
New Zealand Alpine Club president John Cocks today announced the establishment of an independent review of the club's trip up the mountain.
"In recent years, providing for the safety of those involved with the club has been of increasing importance to us. Yet this tragedy is a stark reminder that more must be done. A key objective of the review is to establish what more can be done to support the safety and wellbeing of our members.
