Photo: Supplied
A search for three missing climbers on Aoraki Mount Cook is ready to resume.
A long-awaited and welcome break in the harsh weather conditions means a helicopter was on Friday morning deployed.
There are grave concerns for the three men: two Americans, Kurt Blair and Carlos Romero, and a third, unnamed Canadian.
The search has been hampered by poor weather and search teams were waiting for an opening on Friday.
Meanwhile, police say they will be updating media on the search about 10am.
The climbers were reporting missing on Monday.
"The families are devastated. We know the delay... will be disappointing for them and their loved ones," area commander Inspector Vicki Walker said.
"Our thoughts are definitely with them, and we want to reassure them that we're ready to go, and when the conditions allow, we will."
Gear belonging to the men was found during an initial search, but efforts were then called off due to poor weather over the last couple of days.
The men flew into Plateau Hut at 3.30pm last Saturday, planning to summit the mountain via Zurbriggen Ridge, but failed to meet their flight out.
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