The family of missing yachtie Rex Fearon hope to get some answers about his fate when the boat he was on arrives in two weeks.

An RNZAF Orion has been taken off the search for a New Zealander lost overboard in the Pacific Ocean as hopes of his survival fade.

Efforts to find survivors from a mine collapse in Ecuador have proven fruitless, a report says.

Cracks are beginning to emerge in the Chilean miners' planned unity over media arrangements.

Two Christchurch women were rescued by helicopter from Arthur's Pass National Park today.

Colin Wiggins says he just went into autopilot yesterday helping to save two people from their crashed and blazing vehicles.

The flight instructor who died in a helicopter crash "ate, drank and slept" aviation, a friend says.

The bodies of an instructor and a trainee pilot were this afternoon removed from the wreckage of the helicopter which crashed into Bluff Harbour yesterday.

The helicopter missing since yesterday has been found submerged in Bluff Harbour along with the bodies of the chopper's two crew.

Most of Chile's 33 rescued miners are preparing to return to the homes they last saw more than 70 days ago.

Some cried, others prayed, most just smiled and wrapped their arms around the wives.

A major search underway in Southland for a missing helicopter with a pilot and instructor on board will continue into the night.