Signal lifts hopes for search team

The search team looking for businessmen Michael Erceg and Guus Klatte are optimistic a newly discovered signal is an emergency beacon the pair have set off.

"We detected a signal late [Tuesday] night and again [yesterday] mid-morning from Mt Pirongia (south of Raglan)," said the team's spokeswoman Geraldine Schnauer.

"It's encouraging. The signal is the same frequency as an emergency beacon."

She said there were four people on Mt Pirongia and Mt Karioi recording any signals, and today's search would focus on those results.