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Woman and four children missing in remote New Zealand mountains Woman and four children missing in New Zealand mountains found safe
(about 4 hours later)
A search is under way for a woman and four young children who are missing in a remote mountain range of New Zealand. A woman and four young children who were missing for two days in a remote mountain range of New Zealand have been found safe and well.
The five – including children aged between four and nine – were dropped off for a planned one to two hour walk in the Te Urewera national park in the Bay of Plenty just after 1pm on Tuesday afternoon.The five – including children aged between four and nine – were dropped off for a planned one to two hour walk in the Te Urewera national park in the Bay of Plenty just after 1pm on Tuesday afternoon.
The mountain rage is located in a remote and isolated part of New Zealand, on the east coast of the North Island.The mountain rage is located in a remote and isolated part of New Zealand, on the east coast of the North Island.
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The group was reported missing just after 4pm New Zealand time on Wednesday afternoon, and a search was launched overnight in the Otamatuna Ridge and will continue Thursday. The group was reported missing just after 4pm New Zealand time on Wednesday afternoon, and a search was launched overnight in the Otamatuna Ridge.
Eastern Bay of Plenty area police commander, Inspector Kevin Taylor, said every effort was being made to locate them. But the woman and four children were located at 3.45pm New Zealand time on Thursday and were “safe and well”, according to a statement from New Zealand police.
“At this stage we have 10 search teams combing the area, supported by helicopters, with a focus on finding them as soon as possible,” he said. The group were being winched out by helicopter and would be assessed by medical professionals and then reunited with their family.
“Our hope is that they have been able to shelter somewhere and keep warm until we can get to them. With young children in the group, there are obvious concerns about their welfare, but our hope is that they will be found safe and well.” “While we were fully prepared to keep searching through the night if needed, all are relieved and thankful that the group won’t be having to endure a third cold night in the bush,” said Eastern Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Kevin Taylor.
Tom Adams, of New Zealand’s National Meteorological Service, said overnight temperatures in the region would have been between three and five degrees, with a light frost on the ground. Ten search teams backed by helicopters had been deployed to find the group who endured two nights with temperatures between three and five degrees.
“It would have been cold out there, but not too severe,” said Adams.
Search conditions on Thursday were clear and warm, but the weather was set to deteriorate in the region tomorrow, turning severe over the weekend.Search conditions on Thursday were clear and warm, but the weather was set to deteriorate in the region tomorrow, turning severe over the weekend.
Glenn Mitchell, operations manager for the Tuhoe Te Uru Taumatua tribal administration, said the woman was a local Maori woman, of the Tuhoe tribe, and he understood she was a competent and experienced bush woman. She was a local resident of the Waimana settlements, home to about 300 people.Glenn Mitchell, operations manager for the Tuhoe Te Uru Taumatua tribal administration, said the woman was a local Maori woman, of the Tuhoe tribe, and he understood she was a competent and experienced bush woman. She was a local resident of the Waimana settlements, home to about 300 people.
“We are all very concerned here. It has been two nights and now into the third day. I understand the group is all local and had warm clothing, but no protective rain jackets.”
Mitchell said he understood from local police that there were eleven teams of four men each scaling the “rugged bush” for the missing group.