The bodies of two climbers have been recovered from the north buttress of Sabre Peak in Fiordland National Park after a distress beacon was activated on Saturday night.
One of the dead climbers was an Australian citizen, while the second person resided in Australia but was a dual citizen of New Zealand and Canada.
Police were alerted at about 7.40pm when another climbing party activated a beacon after the missing pair failed to return from their intended 500m route.
"One of the pair was located deceased, but access was difficult due to the deteriorating weather on Saturday evening," a police spokesperson said.
"On Sunday, police and Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue specialists returned to the scene and located the second person, also deceased."
Over the weekend, MetService issued an orange heavy rain warning for Fiordland for Sunday, with up to 150mm of rain and thunderstorms forecasted.
Both bodies were extracted in what was a "difficult and technical rescue", police said.
The north buttress of Sabre Peak has historically been a popular route and was described as being "on the bucket list of many climbers" by police.
Sergeant Alun Griffiths thanked rescuers. “Police are in contact with the families and are offering the necessary support," he said. "This is a result nobody wanted, and our thoughts are with their families."
A formal identification process is underway, with the deaths referred to the coroner.
Sabre Peak has been considered one of New Zealand's best rock-climbing peaks.
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