A person has died on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the central North Island.

Police were notified to the death in the Tongariro National Park shortly after midday today.

A spokeswoman for St John confirmed it receiveda call at 12.09pm and sent a helicopter to the scene.

The Department of Conservation said an elderly gentleman died on the track.

Local iwi Ngāti Hikairo ki Tongariro and Ngāti Tūwharetoa have acknowledged the death. They have place a rāhui on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing that will last for three days from today until sunrise on Monday 13 January.

A rāhui sets a temporary prohibition around the rāhui area and limits access for that period in order to acknowledge the death and to express sympathy to the whānau of the deceased.

All hikers in the area are asked to use alternative tracks during the rāhui.