The brother of missing helicopter pilot Matthew Wallis is optimistic police will find him.
Matthew Wallis was reported overdue just after 1pm on Saturday.
It's understood the 39-year-old was delivering supplies from Wanaka Airport to a lodge north of the township, a flight expected to take 15 minutes.
- Lake Wanaka helicopter pilot believed dead
- Search underway at Lake Wanaka for overdue helicopter
- Lake Wanaka helicopter crash: Search resumes for missing pilot
An oil slick and wreckage from the helicopter washed up on Stevensons Island.
The search at Lake Wanaka has entered into its third day with police now saying it is a recovery mission as they believe he is dead.
Matthew's brother Jonathan Wallis told Newshub his brother is a wonderful, larger than life character.
"I'm certainly optimistic and optimism is certainly very valuable at this time when it's all too easy to get encompassed in the grief of what's happened. But I am optimistic they will bring Mathew home.
"We are at the moment holding onto the fact that Mathew will come home and he will come home soon."
Mr Wallis says his brother is a wonderful father to his son Arthur, and husband to his wife Alice.
"It's difficult for everyone but what makes it so much more bearable is the support you get from family and friends and also the community. We're very thankful for the support from the community and Wanaka has a good heart in that regard."
The family are very tight-knit.
Matthew, Jonathan and their two other brothers all work together on the family owned farm and business - Minaret Station.
"We're a small family business with four brothers as equal shareholders running that business...on a daily basis you're working with or talking to your brothers. Business mixes with pleasure."
And the family has every confidence in the police, Mr Wallis says.
"This is what they do, it's their day job. We're tremendously thankful for what it is they're doing. [We have] the utmost confidence in the capabilities that they have to bring Matthew home."
Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw says police are focused on bringing Matthew home.
"We've transitioned from a search phase into a recovery phase, it's unrealistic to think the pilot is still alive.
"Our main aim is to ensure we get Matt home to his family."
Specialist Navy divers are expected to join the Police National Dive Squad to assist them with the operation.
It is still yet to be determined what caused the helicopter to crash.
Mr Wallis says it is to early to draw conclusions and any theories would be pure speculation.
Newshub.
