A search is underway for a woman who had been diving for crayfish.
The 37-year-old started her dive from a boat with a male friend about 9.10am off Motunau Beach, east of Greta Valley in Canterbury.
Canterbury police search and rescue were leading the search.
A drift pattern area provided by the Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand was searched for 60 minutes this morning by the Waimak-Ashley Coastguard and the Christchurch-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
The Coastguard was then joined by Coastguards from Kaikoura and Lyttleton and Coastguard air patrols from Canterbury and Kaikoura.
Police divers are expected to join the search tomorrow morning.
It is understood that the friend on the boat had raised the alarm.
NZH
