The police in Canterbury believe they have found the body of 28-year-old Andrew Manson, who went missing in Lyttelton a week ago.
The Oamaru man, who was epileptic, was last seen leaving a bar on London Street last Saturday night.
Sergeant Phil Newton says police recovered a body from cliffs in Lyttelton on Saturday.
He said a police dog had found a shoe in bush above Cashin Quay and further searching found the body on a cliff edge between Windy Rock and Cashin Quay.
The body, which has not yet been formally identified, had to be airlifted out by a rescue helicopter.
The police say there are no suspicious circumstances and the matter has been referred to the coroner.