Three young hunters caught in a snow storm in the Otago bush have been rescued.
Police said they were alerted last night that the three men aged in their late teens and early twenties were stuck in the Te Papanui Conservation Park, inland from Dunedin.
Early attempts by search and rescue teams to reach the group in four-wheel-drives and by helicopter were unsuccessful in the poor weather, but a helicopter was able to get in about 2am and bring out the hunters.
Dunedin Senior Sergeant Dave Scott said the group was not sufficiently prepared as the hunters did not have any extra clothing, food, sleeping bags or an emergency locator beacon.
Mr Scott said they were suffering from mild hypothermia and could not have lasted very long in the conditions.
