Tramper dies on newly opened Kapiti walking track

The track stretches 10km alongside State Highway 1 between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay. Photo / Glen Johnston

A man in his 60s has died at a new Kapiti walking track north of Wellington.

Emergency services were called to the Paekakariki Escarpment track at about 1.10pm, Fairfax reported.

"We attended a man who suffered a medical event. We've just had reports he's deceased," Wellington Free Ambulance spokesman Greg Cottrell said.

The track stretches 10km alongside State Highway 1 between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay.

It contains 492 steps and serves as part of the Te Araroa trail, which stretches from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

The track was opened to the public earlier this month.

Police, fire, ambulance and the Palmerston North-based rescue helicopter attended.

A couple, who witnessed the event unfold, told Fairfax the man "just got to the top of the stairs and collapsed".

They believed the man was with his wife and said people performed CPR for about 30 minutes, without success.

A tramper said the track was "absolutely packed" and the steep terrain made it difficult for emergency services.