Trampers rescued

Arthur's Pass. Photo / Simon Baker

A tramper has been rescued by helicopter after slipping into a flooded river at Arthur's Pass National Park yesterday.

The Christchurch woman fell into the Mingha River about 10.45am and was swept "a substantial distance" down the swollen river, Search and Rescue spokesman Graeme Kates said.

The woman managed to raise the alarm, worried about her tramping partner, who was also trying to cross the river. Both women were picked up about 1.30pm. Meanwhile, the body of a man has been recovered from an eastern Bay of Plenty river after a hunting and rafting trip ended tragically on Friday.

Terry Wayne Mason, 44, was one of a party of four on a six-day trip on the Motu River. They were thrown out of their raft and all but Mr Mason scrambled back in. His body was recovered on Saturday.