Gorse scratches but OK after night in open

Apart from several gorse scratches an elderly Trentham walker is none the worse for his night in the open in bush near Birchville Dam, Upper Hutt.

Sergeant Jo Holden, Wellington Police Search and Rescue coordinator, said Mr Ian James Forrester, 83, walked out to the Bridge Road carpark shortly before 10am where he met search teams looking for him.

Sergeant Holden said Mr Forrester was in good shape considering he'd spent the night hunkered down under some bush after getting lost on one of the tracks late yesterday afternoon.

She said Mr Forrester had got off a track and ended up following a creek bed then bush bashing his way through some gorse as he tried to get back onto a track.

"He got a bit disoriented but realised when it got dark that it was best to stay put for the night," Sergeant Holden said. "He told us that he heard one of the search dogs barking but couldn't see any lights or make voice contact."

Once he woke up this morning he managed to get back onto a track and headed on out to meet searchers.