A cold night in the bush
Three Whanga¯rei men who spent a wet and stormy night in Far North bush last week emerged under their own steam, cold but unharmed.
The hunters set¯ off near Te Piiti Marae, at Omanaia, in South Hokianga, on Thursday morning. When family members hadn’t heard from them by 6.30pm they alerted the police.
Constable Jim Adamson, from Northland police Search and Rescue, said four officers and 13 Far North LandSAR volunteers began searching at midnight. Weather conditions were poor, with rain and gusty winds, while the terrain was steep in places, descending to tidal flats, and covered in thick, scrubby bush. The search was halted at 5am but resumed at daybreak, with five police officers from Whanga¯rei and Rawene and 10 volunteers.
Around 11am the men emerged from the bush, and were found by workers repairing power lines damaged in the storm.
Constable Adamson said the men were ill-prepared for even a day walk, with light clothing and no food, GPS or means of communication. One of them had a cell phone but the batteries went flat.
At the “absolute minimum,” anyone heading into bush should have warm clothing, food, a flashlight and reliable communication. Ideally they should also have GPS or an emergency locator beacon, he said.
It is understood that the men declined to talk to police after initially agreeing to stop at the Kaikohe station. At last report they were heading to the Nga¯wha¯ hot springs to warm up.