The New Zealand air force has been called in today to help search for a British hiker who went missing two weeks ago in the mountainous South Island wilderness, police said.
Andrew Wyatt, 41, from Cornwall, was last seen on December 15 in the Nelson Lakes National Park embarking on what was supposed to be a one-day hike to pick up supplies, with police saying they now had "serious concerns for his welfare".
Bad weather has so far hampered search efforts in the remote area but police said that a Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopter was able to fly in specialised alpine rescue volunteers today morning.
They said the four rescue teams, including a dog unit, would conduct a thorough ground search in the area until Sunday, when the weather is expected to deteriorate again.
Wyatt arrived in New Zealand in November and was walking the 3,000-kilometre Te Araroa Trail, which runs along the entire length of the country, when he went missing.
