Bodies of Christchurch-based climbers recovered from Taranaki Maunga
Crew on board a helicopter, dispatched as part of a search and rescue operation, found the two climbers dead shortly before midnight. Their bodies could not be retrieved at the time, and conditions on the mountain stymied efforts by police alpine rescue experts to bring them out on Wednesday. They were recovered from the mountain, with the help of helicopter, shortly after 8am on Thursday. Anthony Wedgwood/Stuff Richard Phillips and Peter Kirkwood died while trying to summit Taranaki Maunga. Phillips’ grieving partner requested privacy when approached for comment on Wednesday night, re...