KEY POINTS:
Divers have not yet found the wreckage of a helicopter in Lake Wanaka and further searching for its pilot this afternoon may be hampered by bad weather.
Pilot Morgan Saxton, 31, disappeared over the glacial lake during a flight from Haast on Saturday evening.
Land Search and Rescue (Land SAR) spokesman Phil Melchior said divers were focusing on the presumed crash site, an area where an oil slick was found off the shore of Mou Waho (or Pigeon Island), about 15km from the Wanaka township.
"They've been working up there all morning with sonar equipment trying to locate the wreckage," he told Radio New Zealand.
"But at the moment the weather is worsening quite rapidly and they've done there first sweeps and we expect that they will want to analyse the data from that before anything else is done."
Specialist navy and police divers arrived by Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules last night and began searching about 4am today.
Land searches have been scaled back and police concede they are looking for Mr Saxton's body.
In a statement issued last night Mr Saxton's family thanked the New Zealand public for their support.
"The Saxton family extend their gratitude for the generous assistance of Morgan's close friends, Search & Rescue, the NZ Police, NZ Navy and the many people involved in the tragic circumstances of Morgan's helicopter accident."
Wanaka police station head Sergeant Aaron Nicholson said everything above the water in the search area had now been thoroughly combed.
"Realistically, we have had to tell the Saxton family there is now essentially little chance of finding Morgan alive. Our sympathies and condolences go out to them."
Mr Nicholson said the Land SAR teams would remain on standby, but the major effort was now with the divers.
Lake Wanaka reaches depths of up to 300 metres and specialised sonar and a other equipment would be used in the search.
Searchers have found several items in the lake, including a pilot's helmet, flight jacket, helicopter seat back and first aid kit.
Mr Saxton had been repositioning the Robinson R22 helicopter to Wanaka for frost-fighting work.
He was on bail, pending appeal, after he and his father, David, were jailed for more than two years in February, after being found guilty of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Ngai Tahu greenstone from south Westland.
Both men are respected rescue pilots, credited with many rescue missions.
The Civil Aviation Authority is investigating.
Thirteen boats, four helicopters and up to 70 Land SAR volunteers have been involved in the search since Saturday.
- NZPA
