A young woman failed to resurface after jumping off a waterfall in the upper South Island this afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the 10m Maruia Falls, off State Highway 65 in the Tasman District, about 3pm, police said in a statement.
"It is understood the woman in her 20s jumped from the top of the falls into the water and didn't resurface."
Search and rescue teams were at the scene trying to find the woman and the police dive squad was on standby.
Officers were providing support to people at the scene, the statement said.
According to the New Zealand Waterfalls website, the "powerful" Maruia falls, located on the Maruia River, are five minutes' walk from the parking area.
With its picnic facilities, the falls are "a relaxing stop between Greymouth and Hanmer Springs" and are included in New Zealand's "must see waterfalls" list, the website says.
The falls are described as a "block" waterfall, where water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.
