Rescuers irked by mishaps

The Government says climbers' free access to the mountains will continue, despite several mishaps and false alarms in national parks.

Last week, a tourist sparked a search that could cost up to $15,000 because she did not sign out of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.

Search and rescue (SAR) teams from Tekapo, Twizel and Omarama were alerted and an Iroquois helicopter was en route from the North Island when the 28-year-old Belgian surfaced in Twizel.

Yesterday, police in Wanaka were angry after a 21-year-old Israeli tramper became lost from her party at 11.30pm on Sunday in the Mt Aspiring National Park.

She later "wandered into the hut" about midnight after members of her group told the Department of Conservation hut warden that she was missing. Police said the basics of tramping safety were ignored by the group who were tramping too late.

Yesterday morning, a man narrowly avoided being hit on the head by a falling rock at Franz Josef Glacier and his partner suffered a broken foot after they jumped a barrier and were caught in a rock slide.

Constable Bill Parker said the pair, a 34-year-old New Zealander and his 24-year-old Canadian girlfriend, read the warning signs, "but they thought they'd be all right so they climbed over the barrier".

A spokesman for Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson said that despite the unnecessary SAR callouts the Government was committed to free access to national parks.

"[The minister] could appreciate it can be some what of a hassle when people go on tramps and don't sign out; but obviously climbing insurance is something [the Government] would not be looking at."

LandSAR national chairman Phil Melchior said commonsense, not making people pay, was the answer.

"Our view of this is that it's frustrating, it's annoying, but legislation is not the answer. "Climbing in Switzerland you have to have insurance, but New Zealand has ACC.

"It would become extremely complex and extremely complicated if you're making value judgments."

The number of false callouts, while frustrating, were a minority, he said.

At Aoraki since July 1, there have been 28 callouts, to mostly moderate or minor injuries, up from the 12 between July 1, 2008 to June 1 last year.

The only death in the 28 callouts was that of Kok Wong, 32, a Malaysian tourist who went missing in September.

His body has not been found.

Mid and South Canterbury police have a $30,000 budget (from July 1) for search and rescue missions, including for Mt Cook.

Last week's callout for the Belgian tourist will blow holes in what was left of that – $5162 at the end of January for the jobs not covered by ACC.

Police area commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said a budget did not dictate rescue missions.

"We had a set budget and if we spend it, we don't spend the money on something else."

- © Fairfax NZ News