A preliminary post-mortem report has revealed that the Australian tourist who slipped while on a guided tour of Franz Josef Glacier on Saturday died from natural causes.
Police say John Parisis, of New South Wales, slipped while negotiating a path along the bottom of an ice corridor.
He lost consciousness and was airlifted to the Franz Josef township, but could not be resuscitated.
Constable Bill Parker of the Franz Josef police says it is not yet clear whether the 38-year-old fell as a result of a medical condition - the nature of which is not yet known - or whether the fall caused his death.
Mr Parker says the coroner is yet to decide if an inquest will be held.