Body of missing man Kimble Moore found

Kimble Moore had been missing for six months. Photo / Supplied

The body recovered yesterday from a rural area near Kaitaia has been confirmed as missing 48-year-old man Kimble Moore.

Moore, who was a patched member of the Tribesmen Motorcycle Club, has been missing since March 17 and police last month upgraded the investigation to a homicide.

A specialist police search group using cadaver dogs conducted a search yesterday on land near Kaitaia as part of their investigation into Moore's disappearance.

Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston said yesterday's search in bush followed the specialist squad being called to the Far North on Wednesday.

Moore, from Waipapakauri, was reported missing by his partner from a Taipa address early on Friday, March 18.

More than 20 police and volunteers searched an isolated area of bush northeast of Kaitaia for Moore in March.

Sergeant Craig Burrows of Kamo police and Constable Tony Harris of Auckland emerge after searching the bush with police dog Phoenix in the search for Kimble Moore. Photo / Peter De Graaf

Yesterday's search included 10 police officers from Whangarei's Search and Rescue group, a dog handler from Auckland with a cadaver dog trained to locate bodies, and 11 trained volunteers from Far North Search and Rescue.

They searched a 3km stretch of roadside as well as 21ha of native bush, pine and gum trees before discovering his body.

Police said today their thoughts were with Moore's family during what had been a deeply distressing time for them.

"We hope that they will get some degree of comfort knowing that they will now be able to bring their whanau member home.

"Police focus remains firmly on the investigation and bringing the person or persons responsible for his death to justice."

A scene examination was still underway at the site where the body was recovered but was expected to be completed later this evening.