Partner flies from Holland to get update on search

Dutchwoman Floor Heering is clinging to the faint hope that the two men missing after their helicopter disappeared in the North Island are still alive.

Ms Heering, the partner of missing Dutch beer executive Guus Klatte, joined in the helicopter search for him yesterday.

She had arrived in New Plymouth earlier in the day after travelling from Amsterdam to Auckland and then down to Taranaki.

New Zealand multimillionaire Michael Erceg and Mr Klatte have been missing since Friday after setting off from Auckland to Queenstown in Mr Erceg's helicopter.

An emotional Ms Heering, who is in New Zealand on behalf of Mr Klatte's family, made a plea for anyone who had seen the helicopter to contact the authorities.

"Please report any sightings you have seen. It is important to us all."

Mr Klatte's family were "worried sick" about him.

Ms Heering said she felt better being on site in New Zealand and knowing that everything was being done to find him.

"I want him back. I want him to be fine, and I'm sure he is. The worst thing is not knowing. We are hopeful that they are still somewhere under the clouds.

"We're keeping an open mind that Mike has just put his helicopter down somewhere either because he ran out of fuel or he had technical problems," she told National Radio last night.

She said both men would remain calm in such a situation.

Ms Heering flew with a rescue helicopter over the search area yesterday.

"I wanted to get a feel on what the terrain was like. It was good because that was what I came over to do, to be here and be able to be the eyes and ears of the family who are back at home and to report to them what is going on."

- NZPA