Thread: Search And Rescue

"UPDATE - Trampers in Tararua Forest Park"

Please attribute to Inspector Donna Howard, Wairarapa Area Commander.

The bodies of the two men found in the Tararua Forest Park yesterday will be transferred to Palmerston North today for a post-mortem to be carried out tomorrow.

The 39 year old and 32 year old failed to return on Sunday from a planned overnight tramp.

It's understood the men had planned to leave Waiohine Gorge campsite on Saturday morning, making their way up to Neill Ridge and via the Dress Circle Track to stay overnight at Alpha Hut.

Indications are that the men did not arrive at Alpha Hut.

Both men were located within a kilometre radius of the hut.

The intended route has been described by local Police Search and Rescue staff as physically demanding.

Weather conditions were generally good over the weekend, but that will be examined as part of the full investigation as to what happened.

The exact cause of the men's deaths will be determined by the Coroner, and Police will be assisting with that investigation.

The two men were foreign nationals who had been resident in New Zealand for some time.

"This is a devastating time for the families involved, and we would ask that media respect their privacy at this time," Inspector Howard says.

Police will not be releasing the names of the men at this stage.