KEY POINTS:
A search for two climbers missing in Mount Cook has been put on hold because of bad weather.
The two Japanese men, believed to be in their 40s, were due back at Mt Cook Village on Saturday and have not been seen since Friday when they were on the upper Empress Plateau.
The worst case scenario was that the climbers had taken a tumble near the summit or above the plateau, Senior Constable Brent Swanson of Tekapo Police said today.
Another scenario was that the pair were safe and waiting for the weather to pass, although climbing conditions at the weekend had been very good.
Police had hoped for a window of good weather to allow searchers into the mountain this morning, but so far there had been none, Mr Swanson told Radio New Zealand.
"There were a number of parties climbing in the area, both on the east and western side, and two of the DOC (Department of Conservation) mountain rescuers ... saw the two of them on the Empress Shelf."
Mr Swanson said the men appeared to have been well equipped and at least one of the men was an experienced climber, having climbed Mt Cook previously.
A series of northwest fronts bringing rain and wind could hold up the search until Thursday, Mr Swanson said.
- NZPA
