Multiple agencies were involved in a day-long effort to get an injured woman off Little Mt Peel, north of Geraldine.

Emergency services and volunteers braved low visibility and patchy weather conditions over nine hours to rescue a Pleasant Point woman who had broken her leg near the summit. 

Senior Sergeant Antony Callon, said two sisters, both from South Canterbury, were walking up Little Mt Peel on Sunday when they ran into trouble near the 1300-metre summit. 

The weather got rough and one sister, aged 38, slipped and broke her leg on the boardwalk, Callon said.

The pair called emergency services about 1pm.

An Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter crew, including a pilot and two advanced paramedics, was dispatched, but contacted Timaru police about 1.40pm to report rough weather conditions on the mountain.

Callon said the helicopter managed to drop an advanced paramedic about 500m from the summit. He then made his way up the mountain to help the pair.

The helicopter then picked up three Timaru search and rescue (SAR) staff from the base of the mountain and flew them on to Little Mt Peel.

The team of four started bringing the injured woman off the mountain about 3pm, Callon said.

From nearby Blandswood, Callon, who was managing the rescue operation, watched the weather close in as 14 volunteer searchers from Methven volunteers arrived.

Thirteen of them walked up the Deer Spur track and met the paramedic and police SAR team to help get the injured woman down the mountain.

The operations wrapped up about 10.30pm – more than nine hours after the woman fell – and the injured woman was taken to Timaru Hospital by ambulance.

Callon said it was a challenging several hours for rescue staff due to the low visibility, and dark, slippery, muddy and wet conditions.

"This was a great example of volunteers working with police and the Otago Regional Rescue crew to get an injured person to safety," he said.

"This couldn't have happened without the dedication and generosity of the volunteers who gave their time in cold, wet conditions, and the expertise of the pilot and his highly-trained crew."

Both sisters were well-equipped for their walk, he said.