Avalanche reported in Canterbury mountain range

Emergency services have been called to an avalanche in Canterbury's Arrowsmith Range area.

Maritime NZ's Rescue Coordination Centre is coordinating the emergency response with police. 

The avalanche hit the Arrowsmith Range area, which runs parallel to the Southern Alps, before noon today. 

A four-person Garden City Helicopters crew has been called to the scene, RNZ reported.

Hato Hone St John has also sent a helicopter after it was notified of the incident just after 12pm.

It is not yet known if anyone was injured in the avalanche.

The NZ Emergency Group Facebook page stated the avalanche appears to have hit south of the "Mt Arrowsmith area".

The NZ Mountain Safety Council said it was aware of a possible avalanche but had no further details.

On Monday, emergency services including rescue helicopters were called to back-country mountains near  Wānaka. 

A skier trapped a metre under an avalanche managed to clear an air pocket around their face to breathe while rescuers were "shovelling like crazy" to get them out. 

That avalanche was triggered about noon. 

On Saturday, two snowboarders reportedly triggered an avalanche. The Treble Cone ski patrol, along with two Search and Rescue avalanche dog teams responded quickly to the scene.

- RNZ, Star News  and ODT Online