By Janika ter Ellen
Police have suspended the search for three people missing off the coast of New Plymouth and will resume at dawn tomorrow.
Two high school students from Taranaki's Spotswood College and their instructor fell into rough seas while on a rock-climbing trip at Paritutu rock.
As darkness fell, helicopters continued to search for the missing three for whom police now hold grave concerns.
“In these winter months, it would be rather cold, and it would be concerning if we can't find them at first light,” acting area commander inspector Frank Grant says.
The two missing students are both 17- year-old boys, one an exchange student from Brazil.
Their instructor, a Taranaki man in his 40s, jumped in to the water to try and save them.
Helicopters earlier rescued nine students and another instructor from nearby rocks.
One had fallen into the water, but managed to climb back to safety.
They were taken to hospital, but have all been discharged.
The students were Year 13 students from the college and were on a rock climbing course run by the Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits and Education Centre.
Paritutu is popular with climbers, but local Phillip Vedder says the area is dangerous.
“It is rough, steep. Loose, gravel and so forth - muddy, slippery.”
Rough conditions haven't helped the 40-strong team of police searching this afternoon on land and sea.
“It is fairly turbulent...and we anticipate it'll be like that for the next couple of days,” Mr Grant says.
The search has been called off for the night and will resume at first light.
3 News