Students rescued from Tongariro
A Hamilton learning institution has launched a health and safety investigation after two students had to be rescued in dangerously cold and icy weather on Mt Tongariro.
Rescuers have criticised the stranded teens as being ‘‘illequipped’’ in weather conditions that could have potentially ended in fatalities.
Two of the trio that became separated from their group were found sitting on a patch of ice in zero degrees and 70kmh winds on Wednesday.
Guides that returned to the mountain to rescue the pair after already completing hikes were forced to dig a trench in the ice and drag the boys to safety.
The 13-strong group of sport and recreation students from Hamilton’s Te Wananga o Aotearoa in Hamilton, had set off on the 20km Tongariro Crossing early Wednesday, accompanied by one instructor.
Taupo police Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said three of the teenage boys went ahead at the red crater, splitting off to the left while the group continued on the correct track to the Mangatepopo carpark.
‘‘One of them then left and the other two gave up, sat down in the snow and rang police saying ‘‘we’re cold, we don’t want to do this anymore’’.’’
The woman in charge of the group reached the Ketetahi Shelter before realising the boys were missing.
‘‘When she got a message from us saying two of your kids are stuck near the summit of Tongariro and one of them has gone back to Mangatepopo.’’
Other groups intending to walk the track that day had abandoned plans due to bad weather conditions, he said.
It was ‘‘zero degrees and a howling wind’’ in visibility less than 10 metres, Shepherd said.
‘‘It wouldn’t have been my choice of day to do the crossing. In hindsight they should have saved it for another day.
‘‘We keep saying we want people to have a good day on the mountain - unless you want an extreme weather experience you are better off to postpone.’’
Hikers making the trek across the Tongaririo Crossing has increased from 80,000 to 120,000 in three years. Of those 0.4 per cent were rescued.