At least $80,000 was spent on the successful search operation for two trampers missing for 19 days in bush at the top of the South Island.

Dion Reynolds and Jessica O’Connor, both 23, set off on a tramp from Anatori at the tip of the South Island's West Coast, into Kahurangi National Park on May 9.

They soon became lost in the fog and dense bush of the area, and without a personal locator beacon had to hunker down while dealing with heavy rain, cold temperatures and lack of food.

The search began on 19 May, with the pair finally being spotted by an Air Force NH90 helicopter on May 27 and winched to safety.

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Police headed the search in the dense West Coast bush in Kahurangi National Park, with support from the Defence Force, Fire and Emergency NZ, Land SAR, and the Department of Conservation's Aoraki/Mount Cook Search and Rescue teams.

Documents obtained through the Official Information Act have revealed the amount of money spent by police and the NZDF during the search.

The Air Force NH90 helicopter in the Kahurangi National Park, preparing to winch missing trampers Dion Reynolds and Jessica O'Connor from a small clearing in the bush, after searchers spotted a plume of smoke from a fire lit by the pair.

Police acting national manager for response and operations Inspector Nicholas Brown said as of June 23, the tally had amounted to $21,508.

He said this was not an exhaustive list, but included the available Kahurangi operational costs from May 22 until and including June 15.

This included $17,000 for helicopter rental, $2,480 for accommodation, $1,191 for food, and $450 for miscellaneous costs.

“Regarding police costs, complete costs for the operation have not yet been received from all involved organisations, as such, are not possible to collate,” Brown said.

Documents released under the Official Information Act show the total cost of the New Zealand Defence Force’s involvement was $62,156.

The majority of those costs were due to the operational costs for the NH90 helicopter from May 21 to May 28, which amounted to $57,070.

These flight costs were calculated using a modelled short-run tasking rate – which included marginal personnel costs, fuel, airport charges and other related costs.

There was also $2,163 spent on food and accommodation, $2,878 for other travel costs, and $43.48 for miscellaneous items.

While the search was still ongoing, a Givealittle page was set up by Jessica’s brother Dominic O’Connor to raise money for LANDSAR’s search efforts.

A total of $34,131 was raised over a 13-day period for the searchers.

In a post on the page Jessica O’Connor said she was “eternally grateful“ for the emergency response.

”At the end of the day we wouldn't be here if it weren't for the efforts of the Police, LANDSAR, Fire Service, Defense Force, all the volunteers, friends and family, donors and the power of positive energy.

“While I would never wish this experience upon anyone, there has been a lot learnt and I'm hoping to use this experience to educate others that explore this beautiful country.”

In June, Southland Locator Beacon Charitable Trust chair John Munro said if Reynolds and O'Connor had a personal locator beacon with them, it was likely they would have been rescued within hours.

He said the cost for hiring one would have been about $30 per week.

"My concern is that they have been praised for having the right equipment with them, and to a certain extent yes they did, but one of the essential items that they should always take with them is a personal locator beacon."