Lake Moeraki plane search: Police believe ‘object of interest’ is not the plane missing since 1978

Multiple agencies are involved in a search at Lake Moeraki near Haast for a missing plane. Photo / NZ Police

Police say there is “no indication so far” the object detected in a South Island lake is the plane that vanished almost half a century ago.

Seven people were aboard the Piper Cherokee Six aircraft ZK-EBU when it disappeared during a scenic flight on December 29, 1978.

A police-led multi-agency search began at Lake Moeraki this morning.

Family members of the missing people joined 17 search personnel at the lakeside for a karakia led by local iwi, police said.

Coastguard West Coast volunteers launched a boat on the lake about 9.30am with Royal New Zealand Navy personnel aboard.

The boat zigzagged across the water as crews used sonar to search beneath the surface.