High winds and a four-metre swell have forced some boats to stop searching for two missing fishermen in Southland.
The alarm was raised yesterday afternoon when the two men appeared to have been swept off rocks near Slope Point Road in Southland.
Invercargill police search and rescue have now withdrawn fishing boats from the search due to the conditions.
Detective Sergeant Dave Kennelly said a helicopter and the Land Search and Rescue team will continue work into the evening.
The men have been missing since about 4pm yesterday afternoon.
Earlier today, rescue helicopters from Queenstown and Dunedin were involved in the search, as well as swimmers, several boats and three Land Search and Rescue teams.