Emergency services at Papamoa Beach where a body was found. Photo/John Borren
The body of a 60-year-old man was found on Papamoa Beach this morning.
Detective Sergeant Alan Kingsbury said the Papamoa man's body was found just after 7am by a fisherman.
Police were making further inquiries about the man's movements, he said.
Kingsbury said some of the man's family members were at the beach.
The death had been referred to the coroner, he said.
A reporter at the scene said emergency services and about a dozen people were on the beach about 500m east of the end of Karewa Parade.
No houses are in the area and emergency vehicles were parked on the road as there was no nearby vehicle access.
Witnesses reported seeing the gunman with a loaded firearm inside the supermarket.