A major rescue operation that winched five injured hikers – one in a critical condition – to safety from Mt Taranaki’s summit took five hours and required several attempts before they were successfully brought off the mountain.

Acting Sergeant David Bentley, Search and Rescue Incident Controller, said all five hikers are lucky to be alive and praised the complex effort of multiple agencies involved in the rescue after the party ran into trouble.

Emergency services were called to the mountain at 2.15pm yesterday, after receiving reports of a hiking group in trouble, with one person requiring CPR.

Bentley said the hours-long operation required a coordinated multi-agency response, with teams from the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ), LandSAR, Alpine Cliff Rescue, Civil Defence and several helicopter companies called in to assist.

“Due to the weather conditions, the helicopters called in to assist with rescue efforts were unable to reach the summit of the mountain,” Bentley said.

Five people were injured during a hike up Mt Taranaki on Sunday, with three in a serious condition. Photo / Brett Phibbs

“Rescue teams on the ground also began to climb up the mountain towards the group.”

The first hiker, who was in a critical condition at the time, was evacuated from the mountain around 6.20pm - four hours after emergency services were first alerted.

Helicopters were then able to evacuate the remaining four hikers by 6.50pm.

All five members of the group were taken to hospital by helicopter or ambulance; one in a critical condition, two in serious conditions, and two in moderate conditions.

“The weather improved for a period long enough for us to get helicopters into the area and rescue the climbers,” Bentley said.

“We were in and out very quickly and had it not been for that break in the weather, there was a very good chance we would have been dealing with fatalities.

The Mount Taranaki rescue took five hours in harsh, changing weather, Acting Sergeant Bentley said. Photo / File

“We’d also like to thank all the community partner agencies that assisted with this rescue, which if it was not for their swift response, the result could have been tragic.”

Hato Hone St John said it sent a pair of ambulances and two helicopters to aid the distressed hikers.

“Our thoughts are with the injured and their families, and we hope for the best outcome and a speedy recovery,” New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (NZMSC) chief executive Mike Daisley said.

“We don’t have further information on this incident in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki so we can’t comment on the specifics. However, we know it was a blustery, overcast day with low cloud and showers in the afternoon on Taranaki Maunga.”

While it’s not yet known what trail the group had attempted, Daisley said the popular Summit Climb “is a serious undertaking that should not be underestimated”.

“While a day hike, it’s both technically and physically difficult, and conditions can change extremely quickly as it is an alpine environment,” he said.

“This is an expert route that is undefined and exposed, involving scrambling over rocks, scree slopes and steep drop-offs.

“Any small mistake can have major consequences. It should only be attempted by experienced trampers with proper equipment and in good weather conditions.”

With New Zealand’s turbulent summer weather, Daisley said it’s vital people plan carefully when undertaking a hike.

This includes monitoring weather, packing for all conditions, carrying a reliable communication device and choosing the right trip for everyone’s abilities.

“It’s never too late to change your plans,” Daisley said.

“The mountains will always be there for another day. The top priority should be making it home safe.”