Two fishermen are missing off rocks at the bottom of the South Island.
The alarm was raised by people nearby at 4.20pm after the two men appeared to have been swept off rocks near Slope Point Road in Southland
Rescue helicopters from Queenstown and Dunedin as well as rescue swimmers, several boats and three rescue teams have all been looking for the men.
The helicopter crews have stopped searching for the evening but will resume at 8.30am tomorrow.
Land and water-based search crews are continuing to search tonight.