Wellington  - An intensive search for Israeli tourist Liat Okin, 35, who disappeared while hiking nearly three weeks ago in New Zealand's scenic South Island, was suspended Monday because of bad weather.

Up to 14 searchers in four teams covered what police described as "nightmare terrain" over the weekend but found no trace of Okin, who failed to return from a three-day hike on the 35-kilometre Routeburn Track near Queenstown.

She has not been seen since March 26.

Her brother, Itamar Tas, has arrived from Israel, and two New Zealand rabbis have joined the search.

Tas told Radio New Zealand he believed that two years of military service, including time spent working in Gaza, had equipped his sister to survive, and he was confident she would be found. (dpa)