Hunters have found two teens who spent the night in a 15-thousand hectare native bush in Upper Hutt

Police started searching at 4:30am, after the 16 and 17 year old didn't return from walking their dogs in Akatarawa Forest Park.

Police, dogs, and members of the public officially searched for three and a half hours - before hunters found the teens.

Wellington Police Search and Rescue Controller, Detective David Nichols, says it's a huge relief.

He says they were not equipped for a night in the bush, but thankfully the weather was relatively warm.