One person has died and six others are injured after a helicopter crash in New Zealand's southern ski fields.

Police say five skiers and a guide were on a heli-skiing trip out of Queenstown when the chopper came down on Mount Alta about 12:30pm (local time) on Saturday.

The pilot and six passengers were all New Zealanders and all male.

Police say four of those on board were seriously hurt and have been taken to Dunedin Hospital. Two others received minor injuries.

Transport accident investigators have launched an inquiry into the accident.

The helicopter is owned by Skyline Enterprises.

Skyline Enterprises chairman Mark Quickfall says it was one of seven company choppers out heli-skiing today.

He says there is no indication of what caused the crash.

"I spoke to one of our senior pilots who was first on the scene," Mr Quickfall said.

"As he said to me, it's a perfect day for flying and heli-skiing. Certainly not windy. So [we] can't put any light on it at this stage."

Mr Quickfall says another helicopter, which was sent out to investigate after the pilot of the crashed chopper failed to make a routine radio check, found the crash site.