Climbers rescued from Aoraki/Mt Cook

The two climbers were last night lifted from 1800m, a Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokeswoman said. Photo / File

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.

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.