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, referring inquiries to Tonkin and Taylor. Tonkin and Taylor group managing director Dr Tim Fisher said those at the company were mourning the loss of “two of our treasured people”.
Less than a fortnight after posting a tribute to a friend killed in a rockfall, Richard Phillips died near the summit of Taranaki Maunga, along with his colleague Peter Kirkwood.
Less than a fortnight after posting a tribute to a friend killed in a rockfall, Richard Phillips died near the summit of Taranaki Maunga, along with his colleague Peter Kirkwood.