Search resumed for missing helicopter near Nelson

File photo / NZ Herald

A search has resumed near Nelson for a missing helicopter after poor weather delayed part of the operation this morning.

Search and rescue controller Greg Johnston said they were hopeful of a sustained period of searching this afternoon.

"The search area has been divided into separate smaller areas and each will be inspected very closely by one of the helicopters operating at low altitude and low speed.

"The search area was based on information from the helicopter's tracking system. The area being searched is around 5km in each direction from that point, Mr Johnston said.

Damian Webster was flying one of two choppers from Karamea on the West Coast to Nelson on a maintenance mission yesterday when his aircraft was lost over the Kahurangi Range.

Rough weather delayed an air search but conditions had cleared enough for four helicopters to return to the scene, New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre spokeswoman Sophie Hazelhurst said.

Two land search and rescue teams were able to start their hunt this morning but had so far reported no sign of the downed helicopter.

The search for the pilot and the Robinson 44 helicopter was centred about 35km west of Motueka in rugged, bushy terrain.

Mr Webster's partner, Jessie Creedmore, said on Facebook that she wanted the "nightmare to end", Fairfax reported.

"Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers just waiting and praying please send strength to my baby Damian Webster," she wrote.

The helicopter was believed to belong to Helicopter Charter Karamea.

Yesterday's search efforts, including using night-vision equipment, found no sign of the helicopter.

The missing helicopter and another chopper left Karamea about 8am yesterday to fly to Nelson for maintenance work on one of the aircraft.

The second helicopter pilot raised the alarm about midday when the missing helicopter failed to arrive in Nelson.

"They weren't in sight of each other during the flight and as we understand it there was no radio communication between them," NZRCC spokesman Steve Rendle said yesterday.

Garden City Rescue Helicopters general manager Simon Duncan said the helicopter had been using a tracking system.

An emergency locator beacon had not been activated.

- Additional reporting APNZ staff