Two men were plucked to safety by Greenlea Rescue Helicopter after they fell out of their raft on the Ngaruroro River.
The rafters, who were in their 60s, were on a rafting trip from the Boyd to Kuripaponga, between Turangi and Napier, when they got into trouble. The raft floated away down the river after they fell out.
They were not hurt but became stuck on some rocks at the edge of a steep gorge and set off two beacons to raise the alarm.
The chopper flew the men to Taupo Airport.