KEY POINTS:
A helicopter scoured the hills in Canterbury this morning but could not find a missing hunter, one of three people lost in the area since yesterday.
Searchers this morning are also looking for a father and son who did not return last night after a day walk on Mt Richardson.
Senior Constable Phil Simmonds said the 24-year-old hunter was reported missing by his fiancee yesterday afternoon after he did not show up at his vehicle at the set time.
He had been hunting in the Avoca Valley at the head of Lake Coleridge in Craigieburn forest park, northwest of Christchurch.
A helicopter searched the area this morning but did not find him, Mr Simmonds said.
Two dog teams and three foot search teams were being gathered to go into the area as soon as possible, he said.
The man was fit and had good equipment.
- NZPA
