A rescue helicopter is making a second attempt to reach two climbers in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.
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 Co-ordination Centre spokeswoman said a rescue beacon was set off by the experienced Kiwi climbers just after 2pm.
The helicopter has another three hours of daylight to reach the pair.
A helicopter was unable to reach the climbers who are around 1800 metres high, this afternoon but it was too cloudy for it to land.
The climbers were well-equipped, the spokeswoman said.
A Police spokeswoman said police had no involvement in the rescue.