One person has been killed in an an avalanche in the Ragged Range near Methven.

Two people were buried, but only one person was conscious when rescuers pulled them out.

Mountain Safety Council spokesman Steve Schreiber says the pair were on a guided tour group when the avalanche occurred around 1pm.

"Not sure how many people were directly involved in the avalanche itself, but one of the people has died at the scene."

Mr Schreiber says they do not yet know how big the avalanche was, or what triggered it.

"There is a group out looking at it right now, to take photographs and take a look at the snow itself."

Mr Schreiber says the Mountain Safety Council had issued an avalanche warning for the area just this morning.