Waikato Police say they are very pleased that two rescues reached successful conclusions at opposite ends of the District in atrocious weather overnight.
Sergeant Vince Ranger of the Waikato Search and Rescue Squad said a 27-year-old man spent a wet and uncomfortable night before being found by searchers this morning.
"Described as having limited bush experience, he was reported missing after being last seen by his hunting group about 8pm. Dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, he was ill- prepared for a night in the bush.
"Teams of Police and Land Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers combed the bush overnight and the man was located in rough terrain in the Kaimai Range, near the Killarney Lakes behind Te Aroha about 5.15am."
Praising the searchers, Mr Ranger said the public are well served by the various SAR teams active in the Waikato, King Country and Coromandel.
"When you consider the conditions these people went out in the search in last night you start to get a feeling for just what a service they provide to our communities."
In the other incident a Hamilton Policemen rescued a rare native bird he found dishevelled by a storm in the north of the City overnight.
Constable Richard Collier had stopped at an ATM machine in Chartwell when he noticed something strange on the road.
"I nearly ran it over but then I realised it was something special and on checking it out found it was a Morpork or Ruru bird which must have been blown from its perch in the storm.
"Once we got it to the station we made a bed for it and tried to get it something to eat but it was a little bit stressed and we set about trying to find it a new home."
Help wasn't far away with Bill Smith of the Department of Conservation bird rescue service arriving at the Hamilton Police Station this morning to uplift the bird.
"It looks like it's definitely been blown from its perch and appears to be one of this year's chicks. It appears fit and well and we'll look to reunite the officer and bird when we're ready to release it later in the year."
Mr Collier meanwhile, was just glad of the successful outcome.
"It was a pretty special experience, he was a friendly wee fella, if in fact it was a boy, and our team were pretty stoked at being able to see it on its way safely."
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