The body believed to be of a man reported missing in October last year has been discovered near Kāpiti by a group of hunters.
While formal identification is yet to be done, police believe the body is that of Duncan Hill, and said the death was not thought to be suspicious.
Manawatū area investigations manager Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said members of the public found the body while hunting in dense bush in the Ōtaki Gorge area.
On Monday, Manawatu Police and Search and Rescue responded to the Eastern Park of the gorge, where they located the body.
“While the formal identification process is yet to be completed, it’s thought that the body is that of missing person Duncan Hill, who was reported missing in October 2023,” Thompson said in a statement.