A helicopter has crashed in New Zealand, with the fate of seven people believed to be on board still unknown, officials say.

The country’s Rescue Co-ordination Centre says helicopters have been sent to the crash site at Fox Glacier.

A mountain rescue team will then be winched down to the site along with a paramedic.

The glacier, on the remote west coast of South Island, is visited by thousands of tourists each year.

The helicopter that crashed is believed to be a Eurocopter “Squirrel” operated by local firm Alpine Adventures, the New Zealand Herald website reports.

In 2010, nine people died when a plane carrying skydivers – which was heading to Fox Glacier – crashed shortly after take-off.