Ten people have been winched to safety after getting into difficulty on a cliff in New Zealand, three others are still missing.

Emergency services say the students fell while climbing cliffs near New Plymouth on the west coast of North Island on Wednesday.

Police say a climbing instructor is among those missing.

The group of 13 were climbing Paritutu Rock when they fell into the water on Wednesday afternoon.

Nine students from nearby Spotswood College and an adult outdoor education instructor were winched to safety by a rescue helicopter.

Helicopter crew member, Andy Cronin, said: "They were sort of huddled up, there was one who was lying down, he was pretty cold, another couple who were quite cold. So we've had a look for survivors in the water.

"Unfortunately we haven't been able to find anyone alive so then we've winched the ten remaining people off the rock."

Police said rescue efforts are being made difficult because of rough weather conditions.