Police have released the name of the man who died in a glider crash near Lake Hawea this week.
He was 78-year-old David MacLean Wilson from Australia.
Mr Wilson was killed in a crash near Makarora on Tuesday while competing in the South Island Gliding Championships and was a Melbourne grandfather of seven.
The competition was suspended yesterday as a mark of respect for him.
The Australian Associated Press reported the Gliding Federation of Australia confirmed Mr Wilson's death and said he was a ''respected member and very experienced''.
Gliding New Zealand spokesman Nigel Davy said competition was suspended because the pilot's death had left those at the Omarama event ''a bit upset''.
''We didn't even bother looking at the weather; we just said, 'No, we're not flying'.''
Mr Wilson's glider crashed about 5.30pm on Tuesday into a ridge inside Mount Aspiring National Park, north of Lake Hawea, during the second day of the 2017 championships that began on Sunday.
Poor weather had prevented flying on Monday.
Mr Wilson was reportedly dead when emergency services arrived at the crash scene.
Twenty-nine gliders are entered in this year's event.
While some carry more than one person, Mr Wilson was the only person involved in the crash on Tuesday.
Police said the death would be referred to the coroner and the Civil Aviation Authority would be notified.
Gliding Federation of Australia president Peter Cesco said Mr Wilson had taken courses on how to safely fly a glider through mountains the week before the fatal crash.
According to the South Island championships results webpage Mr Wilson piloted a Discus 2 glider.
The competition is due to finish on Saturday.
Additional reporting AAP
