Aoraki, New Zealand's highest mountain, is on the country's South Island. Sanka Vidanagama/AFP/Getty Images AP —

Two mountain climbers have died on Aoraki, New Zealand’s tallest peak, and two others from the same group were rescued, authorities said on Tuesday.

The dead climbers’ bodies have been found and specialist searchers were working to recover them “in a challenging alpine environment,” Police Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker said. None of the climbers has been publicly identified, but the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association said in a statement that one of those who died was a member of their organization and the other was that guide’s client.

Sgt. Kevin McErlain told The Timaru Herald the pair had been connected by a rope when they fell near the summit of A

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