Two Japanese climbers due back at Mt Cook village on 29 November have not been seen since the day before.
The two, believed to be in their 40's, went in to the Aoraki/MtCook National Park on Wednesday 26 November intending to climb to Gardeners Hut, the Empress Hut, cross the Mt Cook summit and bivvy on the Summit rocks.
They were due out on Saturday 29 November but were last seen on the day before, Friday 28 November, on the upper Empress Plateau by two other climbers.
The DOC Mt Cook Rescue team flew in to the Hooker Valley Empress area today but did not locate anything and were turned back by deteriorating weather.
Senior Constable Brent Swanson at Tekapo Police says that weather conditions have put the search on hold but it is hoped a small window may open tomorrow morning to the search to continue.
Police are trying to locate next of kin.
Media calls to Timaru police please.