Police say they do not believe three climbers missing on Aoraki Mt Cook have survived a fall.
Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker today said police had used a helicopter and drones to search the area where other items were found on Monday, and had recovered other climbing-related items and energy gels.
Insp Walker said all items had been retrieved.
The search has been suspended, police said in a briefing to media in Timaru this afternoon.
Insp Walker said drone evidence showed footprints, and police did not believe the men survived a fall they took.
Earlier it was reported there were grave concerns for the men - two Americans, Kurt Blair and Carlos Romero, and a third unnamed Canadian man.
The trio flew into Plateau Hut at 3.30pm on Saturday last week, planning to summit the mountain via Zurbriggen Ridge, but failed to meet their flight out.
Gear belonging to the men was found during an initial search on Monday.
Insp Walker said in a statement this morning it was five days since the climbers were reported overdue and the search had been hampered through the week by "treacherous" conditions.
A helicopter was being used today to take up two drone pilots to create a staging area for them to operate a drone as part of the search, she said.
"The window of opportunity to survey the area of interest is small. Our teams will assess any new information we are able to gather from the mountain."
All involved in the search effort were thinking of the men's families.
"The families of the men are understandably distraught and desperate for answers", Insp Walker said.
"First and foremost, we’re thinking of the men’s families in the United States and Canada. This is a deeply distressing time for the relatives - my heart goes out to them.
"We will, of course, continue to monitor any new information or sightings."
For most of the week the weather had limited the ability to repeat Monday's search, she said.
"Our search teams have been hampered by ongoing treacherous conditions. It’s been too windy for helicopters and simply too dangerous and risky to put teams into the search areas."
Aoraki Mt Cook is the highest peak in New Zealand, at 3724 metres, and is a challenging, technical climb with countless crevasses and hazards.
"Even if it was safe put searchers on the ground, it would take a day to reach Plateau Hut and another day to summit the peak and return to the hut, Insp Walker said.
"The weather has presented searchers with a frustrating situation. I would like to acknowledge all of the teams and specialists who are putting their heart and soul into this rescue operation."
- APL
