Two rafters have been rescued - after spending the night missing in the Akatarawa Valley.

They got into trouble when a rafting adventure with seven others on the Hutt River went wrong yesterday.

One of the group got out to raise the alarm and a helicopter winched the other six from a steep gully.

Darkness and the dense forest prevented the other two being found.

Police say the man and woman climbed out of the water and found a bush track, walking and resting through the night.

They were found safe and well by police this morning.