The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) has coordinated the rescue of two women trapped by snow in Christopher Hut in the Ada Valley, near Lewis Pass.

Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator John Dickson said the pair activated their Personal Locator Beacon at approximately 8:30am today and RCCNZ tasked the Nelson rescue helicopter to pick the pair up from the Department of Conservation hut.

The women, from Nelson, were rescued safe and well at around 10:30am.

“The snow was simply too deep for them to leave the hut,” Mr Dickson said, “There were no medical issues involved.”