Body believed to be missing man found

File photo / NZH

A body thought to be that of missing 48-year-old John Waka Graham has been found in a car recovered from the Waikato River this afternoon.

Police have been searching for Mr Graham since he was reported missing by his family in September.

His partially submerged Ford Falcon was found in the river at Ngaruawahia at about 6pm yesterday.

Dive teams from the Police National Headquarters in Wellington recovered the vehicle at about 3pm.

Huntly senior sergeant Pete Simpson says a post-mortem is still to be carried out, but the body inside is thought to be that of Mr Graham.

"Given the circumstances involved we are working along the lines that the person found in the car is the vehicle's registered owner."

- NZ Herald staff