The hunter who died after falling onto rocks near Hanmer Springs yesterday was crossing a river on a water level monitoring device.
The incident happened on the Department of Conservation-managed Molesworth Station, and was first reported as involving a cable bridge.
DOC spokeswoman Lizzie Sutcliffe said the structure had been put up by a local authority for monitoring river levels, and was not intended to be used for river crossings.
It's understood the man was involved in an organised game-bird hunt.
She said the department could not comment further as the matter was before the coroner.
