Two climbers were rescued from Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park last night, in what was described as a "marvellous" piece of flying in poor conditions and as night fell.
Emergency services were called to a land rescue after the climbers, a man and a woman, signalled for help about 10km from Mt Cook Village up steep, difficult terrain on the west side of the Copland Track.
A rescue beacon was set off by the experienced Kiwi climbers just after 2pm.
READ MORE:
• Christmas Day rescue in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park
The two climbers were last night lifted from 1800m, a Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokeswoman said.
"The Helicopter Line team nosed the chopper into the location of the climbers and managed to get them onboard - saving them from a night in the mountain," she said.
The female climber suffered head injuries which were being assessed last night. She was described as being "conscious, but in a lot of pain".
Her climbing partner was uninjured.
Last night, she was expected to be flown to hospital.
"This was a marvellous job by the helicopter team as darkness had set in," senior search and rescue officer Chris Wilson said.
An initial helicopter rescue attempt mid-afternoon was hampered by cloud.
RCCNZ was alerted about 2pm to the climbers plight by a rescue beacon activation from a position on the West Coast side of the Main Divide, on top of Copland Track.