Two people have been confirmed to have died after a light aircraft crashed in a remote area of the Nelson region.
Police were notified just before midday that the aircraft, which had taken off from Nelson Airport at 9.10am, was overdue.
Nelson Area Commander Steven Collins said police had been on standby while Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre managed the search response.
The plane was later located in a remote area south of Castor Peak, near the boundary of the Nelson and Marlborough regions.
“Two people have died in the aircraft crash,” Collins said.
Recovery work was now underway, with emergency services working to retrieve the deceased and examine the crash scene.
The investigation will be carried out in conjunction with investigators from the Civil Aviation Authority.
In a statement posted to social media this afternoon, Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the city was "anxiously hoping and praying for the occupants of the aircraft gone missing north east of the city".
"The Cessna that can take four people took off from Nelson Airport at 9:10am got to an altitude of 3100ft but suddenly dropped to 1800ft when it was lost off radar near the Byrant Range 35km north east of Nelson."
A range of partner agencies are supporting the response.
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