Second day of searching for missing hunter

Searchers gather at the base of operations. Photo / NZ Police

Volunteer search and rescue teams have spent a second day searching for missing deer hunter in south Canterbury.

Dunedin man Murray Edge, 63, was last seen around 8.30pm on Sunday, after he became separated from the friend he was hunting with. Mr Edge was reported as missing shortly after 7.30am yesterday.

Today, volunteer search and rescue teams from Twizel, Lake Tekapo, Fairlie and Timaru, along with local farmers and friends of Mr Edge, spent the day searching for him on the upper reaches of the Tengawai River in south Canterbury.

Inspector Dave Gaskin, said weather conditions were poor today and teams searched through low cloud and rain.

"The terrain being searched is covered in low scrub and vegetation with lots of steep gorge type creeks."

Mr Gaskin said the Canterbury police search and rescue team would now analyse areas that have been searched so far, before continuing the search into tomorrow.

"There were around 60 people involved in the search today and we will download and analyse the GPS data overnight in order to identify and prioritise the areas to search tomorrow.

"So far the search has not found anything to indicate where Murray may be."