Search for Canadian tourist's body scaled back

Connor Hayes.

The official search for the body of Canadian tourist Connor Hayes is being scaled back.

Searchers have spent nearly two weeks scouring the Haast river and surrounding beaches for Mr Hayes, 25, and his girlfriend Joanna Lam, 24. The pair were believed to have swept off the Haast Pass road on the South Island's west coast by a landslide on September 10.

Haast police senior constable Rob Manera said searchers put in a massive effort yesterday.

While a body believed to be Ms Lam's was recovered on Friday, there have been no signs of Mr Hayes.

Mr Manera said about 50 volunteers fanned the river bed and surrounding beaches yesterday.

In addition to searchers on foot, people used jet skis and were on horseback, he said.

"We did all the beaches again and we did from the Haast River mouth right up to the Landsborough river. It would have to be about 40km.''

"We just found debris, not any bodies, which is what we're looking for.''

This morning, only a couple of people had set out to search the area, Mr Manera said.

"We've given it heaps so it's starting to get scaled back now.

"We've flown the river valley a couple of times, we've searched it on foot, we've searched it from jet boats.''

Members of the public had also been helpful, Mr Manera said.

"Everyone knows about it. So some people, just local residents and whitebaiters take it upon themselves to get on their bike and go for a look along the beach.''

Mr Manera said Mr Hayes family were on their way to New Zealand. He was unsure when they would arrive.