Search for missing chopper resumes

The search for a helicopter missing since Friday with two men on board is about to resume after fresh calculations have pinpointed a specific area.

Despite an extensive search by up to 20 helicopters covering around 20,000 square kilometres around Taranaki and Wanganui over five days, no trace has been found of the aircraft or its occupants -- multi-millionaire pilot Michael Erceg and beer company executive Guus Klaate.

The search was halted today while a meeting was held to decide the next step.

A spokesman for the National Rescue Coordination Centre, Steve Corbett, said new calculations from Christchurch air traffic control resulted in a decision to search a 50km sq area of mountainous country on the West Coast near Raglan.

Helicopters were leaving now, and a ground team would move into the area in the afternoon, National Radio reported at midday.

- NZPA