Rāhui declared after man dies on Tongariro Alpine Crossing

The Greenlea rescue helicopter. Photo / File

A tramper has died on the Tongariro Crossing this morning.

A police spokeswoman said the man died near the Red Crater after a medical event.

Red Crater on Mt Tongariro. Photo / File

The body has been removed from the mountain by rescue helicopter and ambulance and Land Search and Rescue were involved in the operation.

Emergency services were alerted at 8.40am when another person who was on the walk activated a personal locator beacon.

Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said karakia were recited at the Mangatepopo Road end of the crossing after the recovery of the man's body.

A rāhui had been put in place on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing until Tuesday morning.

"The rāhui allows family and whānau to reflect in peace."

The man's death would be referred to the coroner.

Nat Every, the pilot of the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter in which the man's body was recovered, said the flying conditions at the time were challenging. "The weather was in and out - and quite bad."

"Due to the local knowledge of both the ground rescuers, the helicopter crew and the police, we were able to assist in the recovery …"

The man's death is the second in two months on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Sateesh Babu Halehally-Chikkanna of Bangalore, India, died on October 1.

He was among four trampers caught off guard by cold weather. They had set off clad in hoodies, sweat pants and running shoes.