A 65-year-old man found dead on mudflats in Northland had gone to check fishing nets and was later reported missing.
Police are investigating after the man's body was discovered next to the Wairoa River, also known as the Ruawai River, about 7am yesterday.A police spokesman said the man had gone to check fishing nets and a member of the public reported someone had gone missing early yesterday.His body was found further upstream from the river.
The death has been reported to the coroner and police would not release the man's name until his family had been advised.
An autopsy would be conducted to assist the coroner in determining the cause of death, police said.
Both police and Fire Emergency New Zealand attended a callout about 7am yesterday.Police would not release details surrounding the circumstances of the man's death, where he was from, or if he drowned because that had to be determined by the coroner.