Wanaka - Search and Rescue

The search for a missing hunter in the Mt Aspiring National Park has entered phase two as at 0800 Monday 9 January.

LandSAR Wanaka search and rescue teams are searching difficult and mountainous terrain in the Rob Roy area of the West Matukituki Valley after a night search using night vision equipment failed to locate any trace of the missing 23 year-old.

The alarm was raised late Sunday night after the Central Otago man, who had been hunting for Chamois, failed to return as planned.

Wanaka police and LandSAR volunteers spent three hours during the night, using night vision equipment which can pick up even faint light sources from more than a kilometre away.

Three teams (10 people in total), including tracking and alpine cliff rescue (ACR) specialists, were called in at dawn and have been deployed.

Incident controller Snr Constable Mike Johnston of Wanaka Police said the terrain was "extremely difficult and hazardous."

"Our priority is to try and find any indication of the missing hunter."

"At this stage we are searching likely points, looking for any sign of the missing man, and seeking to eliminate as many possibilities as possible.

"Further teams are being placed on standby to be used if needed."