On October 22 last year, two climbers near the summit of Kaimatau/Mt Rolleston activated a rescue beacon, but cloud prevented a rescue helicopter from reaching the pair.
The next morning, in dangerous conditions, an alpine cliff rescue team from Christchurch helped the climbers return to nearby Crow Glacier, from where they were taken to safety.
It was one of 3268 incidents New Zealand's search and rescue sector responded to in 2021/22 – and it earned the teams involved a certificate of achievement at this year's Search and Rescue Awards.
The Search and Rescue Council's annual report shows the sector assisted or rescued more than 1500 people and saved 150 lives in
