11.59pm
UPDATE - Eight people are believed dead after a small plane crashed near Christchurch tonight.
Two other people are understood to be in a serious condition.
The Piper Chieftain plane was found near McVicar's Timber Yard after a two hour search by emergency services.
The charter plane, owned by Air Adventures, was believed to be carrying about 10 people.
It was en route from Palmerston North when it went off radar at at Christchurch Airport about 7.15pm in foggy conditions.
It was later confirmed than the passengers were government agency Crop and Food Research employees including scientists, business managers, communication and human resource staff.
Mr Clearwater said the wreckage was found near the timber yard on the corner of Johns and Greywacke Rds.
Two ambulances and a helicopter were in attendance.
A Fire Service spokesman said as far as he was aware the plane had come down in open fields.
"But there's basically a blanket fog in the area which makes it very difficult," he said.
Police said they had no confirmation of the state of those board.
They would hold a press conference near the scene in the next two hours.
- HERALD STAFF, NZPA
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