Police have recovered a body they believe is that of a Wellington man who disappeared in Mt Aspiring National Park nearly three weeks ago.
Scott Oliver, 41, was last seen on the evening of 4 January when he split from his party and took a short cut through a gorge in the upper reaches of the Wilkin River.
Searchers tracked his footprints into the gorge, but could find no trace of his leaving it.
Search co-ordinator Aaron Nicholson said a tramper saw a man's body on the river bed yesterday afternoon.
The tramper told a jet boat operator, who passed the information on to police.
Sergeant Nicholson said the body was about 15 kms downstream from where Mr Oliver was last seen alive.
Mr Nicholson believed the significant amount of rainfall last week flushed the body from the gorge.
