Two teens missing overnight on rural Upper Hutt walking track found by hunters

Two teens missing overnight after they failed to return from a walk with their dogs on an Upper Hutt walking track have been found by two hunters.

Oscar, 17, and Cavell, 16, set off in the Karapoti track, in the Akatarawa Forest Park at 5.30pm yesterday. They were expected to return at 9pm.

The pair and their pets were found “safe and well” at 8 o’clock this morning by two hunters.

Wellington District Police search and rescue squad incident controller Detective David Nichols said they were reported missing at 2am by a family member of Cavell, who reported she and her boyfriend had not returned home. The search began at 4.30 this morning.

Nichols told Newstalk ZB the pair were located in the area of the bush they expected them to be.

“They were not equipped to spend the night out in the bush,” Nichols said.

“But thankfully the weather has been quite good, relatively warm in the middle of summer.”

Nichols said the lack of wind and the fact they were below the snow line also contributed to them being found safe and well.

“Police would like to remind anyone going into the bush that if you are potentially leaving a cell phone coverage area to tell someone where you are going when you intend to be back, and to take a Personal Locater Beacon if you have one.

“We would like to thank the hunters, the Land Search and Rescue teams, and others involved in this operation, along with members of the public for their concern.”

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.

- Additional reporting by Azaria Howell