Police say there is still hope the bodies of three climbers lost on Aoraki Mount Cook could be recovered, though the official search has ended.
The helicopter used in the search and recovery operation on Aoraki - also known as Mt Cook. Photo: NZ POLICE
Australian Michael Bishop, 53, and Germans Johann and Raphael Viellehner, 27 and 58, have not been seen since early Monday morning when they set out for a day-long climb.
During the past week, search and rescue teams had been hampered by bad weather on the mountain
Senior Constable Brent Swanson said if the men were alive, they would have been found by now.
However he said their bodies could still be be found.
"There is still that hope that a climber or a passing aircraft will spot something, especially over the next few days as the weather thaws out we might see something."
