Police are asking members of the public to avoid the boat ramp at the northern entrance to Lake Moeraki next week while a search operation is carried out. 

Acting West Coast Area Commander Mark Kirkwood says the search will begin on Monday 21 September and is expected to continue until Wednesday 23 September in the Lake Moeraki area near Haast. 

“The boat ramp at the northern entrance to the lake will be used throughout the search. 

Two people are due in court today after calling Police to report an unwanted visitor at their Newtown address. 

Police were called to the property in the early hours of this morning after a person was reported to be refusing to leave. 

While officers were still on the phone with the caller, she was allegedly overheard telling her partner to hide drugs before Police arrived. 

Inspector Dean Silvester, Wellington Area Commander, says officers attended the address to deal with the trespass matter before subsequently obtaining a search warrant.