Missing hunter's body recovered

The body of a hunter missing in the Waitotara Valley in South Taranaki since Sunday has been recovered.

New Plymouth firefighter Alex Jaggard McLaren, 58, was found yesterday morning in steep terrain.

His body was winched from the site in the afternoon.

Police said it was believed Mr McLaren had slipped down a 30m cliff face and fallen a further 10m on to a creek bed. Thick vegetation obscured the body.

Up to 12 search teams comprising 60 people had been looking during the past three days in a steep area with dense bush and wet conditions.

Hail and cold winds had limited landing areas for Air Force Iroquois helicopters, and searchers had to be winched into the area.

- NZPA