Body of British hiker found in New Zealand mountain range

The body of a British hiker who went missing nearly two weeks ago in a mountain range in New Zealand has been found, police said.

Darren Myers, 49, was discovered on Wednesday after he appeared to have died from a fall near a waterfall in the Tararua Ranges outside the capital of Wellington.

"It happened very suddenly. I don't think he suffered at all," Police Sergeant Tony Matheson said on Radio New Zealand.

"When you're undertaking a journey like this, there's always going to be a risk," he added

Mr Myers, a British national living in Wellington, had been missing since June 1 when he failed to turn up at a designated location during his hiking trip.

Search operations were hampered by rough terrain and bad weather, including snow.

Thousands of hikers visit New Zealand each year to explore its mountains and wildlife.

The Tararua Ranges is popular because it is close to Wellington, but the steep terrain and unpredictable weather can pose a challenge to hikers.

In 2016, a Czech women spent nearly a month alone in a warden's hut on a remote hiking trail on the country's South Island after her male partner was killed in a fall.