KEY POINTS:
An elderly English tramper remains missing after five nights in the Central Otago bush and police are reviewing whether to continue the search.
Derek Hawkins, 72, who suffers from angina, was last seen on Thursday morning heading out on a planned four-hour walk to Crucible Lake in Siberia Valley, Mt Aspiring National Park.
Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, Wanaka police search and rescue coordinator, sa id no searches were being carried out today.
An independent team from outside Wanaka was reviewing search plans to decide whether searching would continue.
Mr Hawkins had a sister and nephew in New Zealand, who were "forever hopeful", but realistic that it was unlikely he had survived because of the length of time he had been missing and his health, Mr Nicholson told NZPA.
If the search was called off, it would only resume if further evidence was discovered, he said.
More than 30 SAR personnel had been in Siberia Valley searching on foot, from helicopters, at night and using dogs for four days.
A specialist team unsuccessfully combed the steep creek that drains the valley without success.
- NZPA
