Men lost in Hunua Ranges rescued

Two men are lucky not to be spending the night in the bush after becoming lost in the Hunua Ranges south of Auckland this evening. Photo / file

Two men are lucky not to be spending the night in the bush after becoming lost in the Hunua Ranges south of Auckland this evening.

Emergency services were contacted about 8pm and informed that a group of three women who had been walking with the men had become concerned when they failed to return from the bush, a police spokeswoman said.

The group had been walking on a track on Mt Kohukohunui and the three women separated from the men near the summit between 2-3pm.

The men, one aged in his late 20s the other in his early 30s, were in text contact with the women about 5.30pm but became concerned when they failed to emerge from the bush and contacted emergency services.

The women were waiting in the carpark.

A police helicopter was sent to the area and spotted the men about 9.30pm.

Emergency services had managed to contact the men and told them not to leave their location.

The helicopter crew had notified a police land search and rescue crew of the men's coordinates and they were on their way into the bush to retrieve the men.

The men were not injured, were wearing warm clothing and had some food with them, the spokeswoman said.