Two helicopters, searching for a pair of Japanese climbers missing in Mount Cook, today spotted a tent and one person near the mountain's summit ridge.
However, because of high winds they were unable to make a rescue.
Police said they could not confirm if the person was one
of the missing men, but as it was the same area where the pair had gone missing, it was quite likely.
The two 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.
About 7.30am today, two helicopters flew up to summit ridge where they located a red tent above the Porter Col and a person who came out and waved to them, Constable Stu Moir of Tekapo police said.
The helicopter returned to base to collect "throw bags", which have survival essentials but by the time they returned the wind was too high for them to get near.
"The wind was up and it was unsafe to execute a rescue or throw the bags," Mr Moir said.
"We're looking at a window at a similar time tomorrow to try to get there but right now there are high winds and a lot of cloud in the area."
A series of northwest fronts bringing rain and wind had prevented search and rescue teams entering the area by foot.
- NZPA
