Five staff die in crash

Friends of Greymouth skydiver and businessman Rodney Miller were yesterday devastated to lose a man described as a generous friend and loving father and husband.

Skydive New Zealand business partner John Kerr, of Greymouth, spoke briefly at a media conference yesterday. He said he was "absolutely devastated and numbed by the tragedy that has taken place here".

• Pilot experienced, personable 

The company had 13 staff - seven dive masters, two pilots, two drivers and two office staff. Five had died. The company was still coming to terms with the loss of people they regarded as extended family.

"On behalf of the surviving members of the company, all of our thoughts are with the families of all nine people whose lives have been lost," Mr Kerr said.

"Rod Miller was my business partner, has run the business here in Fox Glacier for the last 12 years and has been with Skydive New Zealand since the beginning. Rod ... held extensive safety qualifications and was a qualified parachute packing technician. He had done more than 13,000 jumps.

"Chamindra Senadhira ... had worked with us for 18 months. He had 4500 hours flying time, mostly as a drop pilot. Adam had worked for Skydive New Zealand for three months and had done more than 10,000 jumps.

"Chris had previously worked full-time for Skydive New Zealand and was working part-time. He had done more than 7000 jumps. Michael Suter had worked for the company for just over three years and had done 4500 jumps."

Saturday's operations had been "business as usual", with a detailed safety briefing. The skydive was to take place from 12,000-16,000 feet.

"We were expecting to have a busy day with the good weather, and before yesterday's crash, eight flights had been completed," Mr Kerr said.

Stuart Bean, the chairman of the New Zealand Parachute Industry Association, said he would meet Skydive New Zealand staff to offer support. It was too early to say what the company would do, he said.