Two Japanese climbers are overdue on a climb across the Mount Cook summit.
The pair, believed to be in their forties, were due back at Mt Cook village on Saturday and have not been seen since Friday.
A team searching for them was turned back by deteriorating weather today.
Senior Constable Brent Swanson, of Tekapo police, said the pair went in to the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park last Wednesday, intending to climb to Gardeners Hut, the Empress Hut, cross the Mt Cook summit and bivvy on the summit rocks.
They were due out on Saturday but were last seen on Friday on the upper Empress Plateau by two other climbers.
Mr Swanson said Department of Conservation Mt Cook rescue team flew in to the Hooker Valley Empress area today but did not find anything and were turned back by deteriorating weather.
The search was put on hold but it was hoped a small window may open tomorrow morning so the search can continue.
Police were trying to locate next of kin, Mr Swanson said.
- NZPA
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