KEY POINTS:
Police divers were today searching a river for Ashburton hunter Corey Foster missing for nearly a week.
Mr Foster, 24, failed to return to the Avoca Hut, at the head of Lake Coleridge in Mid Canterbury, as planned last Sunday after going hunting.
His fiancee, Rachel Pawsey, waiting there for him to return, raised the alarm about noon on Monday.
Senior Constable Phil Simmonds said today that the police divers had been called in to search a section of river near the Avoca Hut.
"The section contains several large pools. We can't see the bottom..and we just want to make sure that Corey hasn't slipped in there."
About five searchers spent last night in the Avoca Hut with others camping outside, while as many as 20 were based in shearers' quarters on a nearby farm.
Police said Mr Foster had good gear, including a survival blanket, but was not prepared for a prolonged stay in the open.
- NZPA
