A highly-respected member of Te Runanga o Otakou is one of two men found dead after a boat foundered off Fiordland yesterday.
The bodies of the two men were found near Breaksea Sound. Their names are yet to be released.
Police provided few details of the incident, but said emergency services were alerted after the discovery of a man's body and the wreckage of the boat.
"The first man's body and the wreckage of the boat was discovered this afternoon and a search was initiated,'' police said in a statement last night.
"The body of the second man was located some time later.
"The matter is being referred to the coroner.''
Police would not respond to further questions about the incident last night.
One of the men lives at Otakou, on the Otago Peninsula.
Te Runanga o Otakou representative Tahu Potiki said last night the men's bodies were being flown to Te Anau.
Family members were travelling to Te Anau.
It is understood one of the men owned the boat and the other was a crew member.
Southern Lakes Helicopters was alerted to the wreckage by another vessel yesterday afternoon.
A Southern Lakes Helicopters spokeswoman said the company sent two helicopters in response to the alert.
She declined to comment further.
A Maritime New Zealand spokeswoman said the Rescue Co-ordination Centre organised the initial search before handing the matter over to police once the bodies were recovered.
