KEY POINTS:
The family of missing Israeli tourist Liat Okin began a private search for her at first light today after the official search was suspended last night.
Ms Okin's brother Itamar Tas said a group of family, friends, professionals and volunteers would pick up where police left off.
Ms Okin, 35, failed to return to Queenstown on March 27 after walking part of the Routeburn track.
She was last seen around the McKenzie Hut area.
Searchers have been trekking into dense bush almost every day since April 8 when police were told she hadn't arrived back in Queenstown as planned.
Search coordinator, Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Hutt, of Queenstown police, said yesterday the search was winding up.
"They'll be wrapping up. I've heard nothing back from the field to give us any indication they'll be continuing."
A friend of the Okin family, Joe Kariv, said local professionals, such as hunters, mountain guides and rangers, some who were volunteers on the police search team, would help in the search to be headed by Israel's most experienced search and rescue professional, Hilik Magnus.
Mr Magnus joined the police search after arriving in Queenstown with Mr Tas on April 10.
Another skilled search and rescue professional from Mr Magnus' company was expected to fly in from Israel yesterday.
The family has set up the Liat Okin Charitable Trust Fund to help raise money for the search.
- NZPA
