Bad weather halts Kahurangi search for pair

Searchers urgently looking for two trampers missing in the upper South Island were yesterday pulling out of exposed areas for their own safety as bad weather approached.

A severe weather warning was issued for Nelson west of Motueka with heavy rain expected overnight.

The area includes the Kahurangi National Park where Jessica O’Connor and Dion Reynolds have been missing for more than a week.

The 23-year-olds set out from Anatori on May 9 and were due back on May 14-15.

The hunt for the pair began on May 19 with police, volunteers, the New Zealand Defence Force, Urban Search and Rescue, Land Search and Rescue and the fire service pitching in. A team from Alpine Cliff Rescue Mt Cook joined the search effort on Saturday.

In a statement yesterday afternoon, police said up to 100ml of rain was expected in the area in the following 24 hours.

“As such, search efforts will focus on areas that are safe to operate in through the rain, and teams in more exposed areas will pull out for their safety.”

Rain was forecast to become heavy at times from the afternoon, according to MetService. Northerly winds were expected, with gales in high places before easing overnight.

A heavy rain warning was in place from 4pm, ending at 5am today.

Between 70-100mm of northerly rain was expected to accumulate over that time, with peak rates of 10-15mm an hour.

O’Connor and Reynolds are experienced in the outdoors, and O’Connor, who works for Abel Tasman Kayaks, is said to have good knowledge of the area, which is in dense bush.

As such, search efforts will focus on areas that are safe to operate in through the rain. Police statement