Media note: We are experiencing technical difficulties transmitting the audio file from today's media briefing and are unable to make it available at this time. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Update:
Police search and rescue crews along with LandSar volunteers have spent today searching the Haast River area for two missing Canadian nationals.
Connor HAYES (25yrs) and Joanna LAM (24yrs) were last seen at Fox Glacier on the afternoon of 10 September. A portion of their wrecked rental van was located on Monday in a gorge off the Haast Pass road at Haast Gates on the West Coast of the South Island.
Last night a fuel tank believed to have come from their vehicle was found washed up on the beach about seven kilometres north of the mouth of the Haast River. The river mouth is about 50 km from the highway where the pair's vehicle is believed to have left the road.
In total 16 Police and volunteers have been involved in today's search effort which included two jet boat teams, ground search teams and a helicopter.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, a helicopter with specialist heat seeking equipment will join the search. A search dog is also being brought in from Christchurch to assist the ground search teams tomorrow.
end
Media inquiries to Tasman Police Communications Manager Ph 0274 780853