A staging area will be set up when the weather clears so rescue teams can recover the remaining bodies of those killed in the Fox Glacier helicopter crash.
Two Australians, four Britons and a Kiwi pilot died in the crash at the popular South Island tourist spot on Saturday morning.
Police recovered three bodies on Sunday by winching them out with a helicopter during a patch of clear weather.
But difficult conditions set in again, and it could be as late as Wednesday before teams will get another chance to remove the last four victims from the wreckage.
Police say when the weather clears they will set up a staging area for rescue operations.
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"While we're determined to return these people to their families, this will be a complex and technical task with an emphasis on the safety of those involved," Inspector John Canning said.
"We are waiting for a substantial break in the weather to get back on the glacier and systematically work through what is a highly technical recovery operation."
Alpine Cliff Rescue team leader Marius Bron said working on the glacier's fragile ice was akin to working on popcorn, with rescuers having to use ropes and winches.
The Australian victims were Leang Sovannmony, 27, and Josephine Gibson, 29, from NSW.
The family of British couple Nigel Edwin Charlton, 66, and Cynthia Charlton, 70, who were killed in the crash, say they were adventurous when it came to travel.
"This holiday was to be their last big adventure together," the family said in a statement.
"We are grateful that they remain travelling together but heartbroken that their new itinerary started the way that it did."
Another victim, 51-year-old Katharine Walker, was the head of radiotherapy at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
She was killed along with her partner Andrew Virco, 50.
A spokesman for Cambridge University Hospitals, which runs Addenbrooke's, said: "Everyone at the hospital is devastated by the news and our thoughts go out to Kath's family at this very sad time.
"Kath was a much respected member of staff who had worked at Addenbrooke's for 23 years. We know many of our staff are going to be hit hard by this tragic news and we will be offering additional support for them."
The pilot was Mitchell Paul Gameren, 28, from Queenstown.
