Updated at 3.37pm
Police say a missing aircraft has crashed south of Castor Park, on the Marlborough side of the Whangamoa Saddle.
Nelson Police Area Commander Steven Collins, says emergency services are responding to an aircraft crash, but that no further information was available.
"Police were notified of a plane that had been overdue just before midday and were on standby as Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre managed a search response."
Earlier, the Rescue Coordination Centre said the plane left the city at 9.10am on Tuesday.
Two rescue helicopters were responding from Nelson and Wellington. They were searching the area where the plane was last known to be flying, northeast of Nelson.
The Rescue Coordination Centre said a range of agencies were also supporting the search.
Reporting with rnz.co.nz
