Wreckage from a helicopter with three people on-board has been found south of New Zealand, the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) has confirmed.
The private helicopter, operated by Southern Lakes, was travelling to the Auckland Islands, which are roughly 460km south of New Zealand, when it went missing with three people on-board.
The last contact with the helicopter was just after 7:30pm on Monday night.
RCCNZ duty manager manager Kevin Banaghan told Newshub a fishing boat had located a door from the missing helicopter.
Banaghan said search efforts are continuing around the helicopter's last known location.
There was low cloud in the area on Tuesday morning but conditions were said to be improving.
The helicopter had been travelling to the islands for a medical evacuation.
A call for help was issued by RCCNZ and five fishing vessels responded.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion was also assisting.
The people on-board are reported to be dressed for cold water and trained for emergency situations. There would also be a life raft on board.
Banaghan said there hadn't been any signals from the helicopter since before RCCNZ was notified it was missing on Monday night.
The person who was meant to be evacuated has been taken by boat to Bluff.
Newshub.
