Wellington, March 11 NZPA - Being poorly prepared and equipped contributed to the deaths of former Te Papa boss Seddon Bennington and his companion Marcella Jackson on a tramping trip last year, a coroner has found.

Dr Bennington, 61, and Ms Jackson, 54, died of hypothermia after they were caught in blizzard-like conditions in the Tararuas on July 11, while trying to reach Kime Hut. Their bodies were found four days later, 300m apart, about 1km from the hut.

In findings released yesterday, coroner Tim Scott concluded that Dr Bennington and Ms Jackson died on the morning of July 12, The Dominion Post reported.

It was likely Dr Bennington waited until Ms Jackson died before leaving in search of base camp at Field Hut.

The key factors in their deaths were a lack of equipment for adverse weather, as well as their failure to properly check the weather forecast or take cellphones, Mr Scott said.

Search and Rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Noel Bigwood told the inquest neither tramper carried a compass, GPS device or mobile phone.

There were strong signals from both the Vodafone and Telecom networks in the area where they were found, he said.

Their clothing and sleeping bags were inadequate and they did not carry a tent.