Parents to unite in memory of lost climbers

Nicole Sutton.

The parents of an Auckland woman who died with her partner on a climbing trip to Mt Taranaki have spoken for the first time of the "big gap" left in their lives, and paid tribute to the "hero" who lost his life trying to save their daughter.

Nicole Sutton, 29, and Hiroki Ogawa, 31, spent two days stuck near the summit of the mountain on Labour Weekend last year, huddling in a makeshift ice shelter before rescuers managed to reach them.

Ms Sutton's parents Keith and Anna Sutton spoke to APNZ about their plans to mark the anniversary of their deaths.

Dr Ogawa's family - dad Mitsuhiro, mum Kaoru, sisters Megumi and Moe, and aunt Reiko Sato - are flying from Japan to join the Suttons, including their son Mike and his wife Janene, for the private family commemorations.

They will travel together to Mt Taranaki, before returning to Auckland where Megumi will run the Auckland marathon next weekend in Dr Ogawa's honour.

Then Ms Sutton's friends and her mother will take part in the Kerikeri half marathon on November 15.

They want to commemorate their loved ones' lives by emulating their active lifestyles.

Ms Sutton was a life-long skier and snowboarder who had taken up mountaineering in recent years, while Dr Ogawa was an experienced climber.

"There is a big gap in our lives that was once filled by Nicole and Hiroki, but we do our best to honour them by getting into the wilderness and outdoors ourselves," Mr and Mrs Sutton said, adding that they had recently returned from walking the famous Inca Trail in Peru.

The Suttons have also been touched by the thoughtful tributes paid by the former workplaces of their daughter and her partner.

The University of Auckland, where Dr Ogawa worked as a climate lecturer, planted a Japanese umbrella tree in its grounds in his memory, while environmental consultants Boffa Miskell, where Ms Sutton was a geographic information systems (GIS) analyst, created a "beautiful" book of memories of her time working there.

Mr and Mrs Sutton paid tribute to Dr Ogawa, saying: "He gave up his life for Nicole, trying to protect her, and for that he will always be our hero."