Poor weather is hampering efforts to reach the site of the Fox Glacier helicopter crash that killed a pilot and six tourists.
There were six overseas passengers in addition to the pilot on board the helicopter, which was operated by the Alpine Adventures tour company, the newspaper said.
The crash occurred in Fox Glacier, which is located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park — a popular tourist destination.
A rescue team was sent to the site of the accident on Saturday afternoon, but no survivors were found.
An investigation into the helicopter crash is underway. The New Zealand Herald said citing weather analysts that visibility around Fox Glacier was poor on Saturday.
Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn said as cited by the newspaper on Saturday that the helicopter crashed in a heavily crevassed area that was hard to navigate.
Agencies/Canadajournal