Helicopter wreckage recovered

A total of 26 personnel - including police, alpine rescue staff, and investigators - were at work at the scene today. Photo / Supplied

The wreckage of a helicopter that crashed on Fox Glacier on Saturday, killing all seven people on board, has been recovered.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) said this evening that it had successfully removed all the wreckage it had recovered from the site.

Earlier in the day, lifting operations had been interrupted by the weather.

TAIC spokesman Peter Northcote said the wreckage was plotted, photographed, and inspected where possible by its lead investigator and engineering expert.

The wreckage was then moved for preparation for lifting from the scene.

"The three loads of wreckage, including the rotor blades, transmission, engine, tail boom and cabin have now been transferred to a truck for transport to the commission's Wellington technical facility," Mr Northcote said.

"Initial interviews and documentary evidence collection should be completed tomorrow, and the investigation team will be stood down for the weekend before resuming work next week."

TAIC's inquiry aims to determine the circumstances and causes of the accident with a view to helping prevent recurrences.

Drone footage will be used to construct a 3D model of the site to piece together the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The investigation was likely to involve help from agencies in France, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.

A total of 26 personnel - including police, alpine rescue staff, and investigators - were at work at the scene today.

The bodies of the final three victims were retrieved today along with the wreckage. The four other bodies were recovered earlier.

Sergeant Sean Rudd said completing the job wasn't an easy task.

"Its a mixed feeling - the kind of job that we're up there doing, but it is good to finally get that done. There's a lot of pressure on all of us this week and of course the families are the ones we feel for the most."

Two Australians, four British tourists and the New Zealand pilot all died in the crash on Saturday.