Underwater camera to be used by searchers

The police national dive team plans to lower an underwater camera from a helicopter into the rough seas at Curio Bay today as the search continues for missing 11-year-old Mike Zhao-Beckenridge and his estranged stepfather, John Beckenridge.

Southland area commander Inspector Kelvin Lloyd said dive team members returned to Invercargill last night with plans to use the camera today.

'' ... we hope [the underwater camera] will help us to get visual confirmation of what may be in the water,'' Insp Lloyd said.

Plainclothes police officers seen outside Mr Beckenridge's Queenstown home yesterday were on routine business, police said.