Missing hunter found dead

A missing Central Otago hunter was found dead late today in difficult and mountainous terrain above the West Matukituki Valley in the Mt Aspiring National Park near Wanaka.

Police said the body of 23 year-old Mathew John Laing, from Alexandra, was found at around 6.45pm, after an intensive search.

Mr Laing appeared to have fallen while hunting Chamois on precipitous mountain faces above the Rob Roy Valley.

The search, which began late on Sunday night after Mr Laing was reported overdue, continued all day involving Wanaka Police and 15 volunteers from LandSAR Wanaka, the search and rescue organisation. The teams included specialist search management, tracking and Alpine Cliff Rescue (ACR) personnel.

Wanaka Police SAR coordinator Sgt Aaron Nicholson said Mr Laing, an experienced hunter, had gone into the area above the popular Rob Roy Glacier track on Friday, hunting for Chamois in the precipitous terrain high above the tourist route.

Wanaka Police and LandSAR volunteers spent three hours during the night searching from a night-equipped helicopter, using night vision equipment which can pick up even faint light sources from more than a kilometer away.

Fresh teams were called in at dawn.

Nicholson said the search effort had utilised the optimum number of people that could be safely and usefully deployed in the terrain, working on foot and from helicopters. The search currently involved combing ground and aerial work.

The search was helped by perfect weather conditions in the area.

"We are very fortunate to have a team as expert and dedicated as LandSAR Wanaka," he said.

"On behalf of everyone involved in the search, our deepest sympathy goes out to Mr Laing's family," Nicholson said.

The death has now been referred to the Coroner.