Abbey Caves.
Photo: Whangārei District Council

Fifteen teenagers, their teacher and an instructor are trapped in a Northland cave.

Whangārei Boys’ High School has confirmed a group of its year 11 students are stuck in Abbey Caves.

It said principal Karen Gilbert-Smith had travelled to the caves to support the rescue.

Whangārei District Council said it had been informed that there was an operation underway and that emergency services were leading the response.

The council manages the Abbey Caves but said it could not confirm anything else at this stage.

A resident on Whareora Road which turns onto Abbey Caves said it had been raining all day and it was getting heavy.

More to come…