Drowned fisherman's body found

Police have found the body of a fisherman lost after his boat was swamped by waves off Whangaparaoa, north of Auckland.

Palu Siua, a 40-year-old from Otara, Auckland, was fishing with his cousin, Robert Motuliki, in their four-metre-long aluminium boat early on Saturday morning.

Hit by a succession of big waves off Okoromai Bay, their boat was swamped, throwing both men into the water.

Mr Motuliki was able to swim the 100 metres to shore, but Mr Siua -- a father-of-eight -- disappeared.

His body was today retrieved by the police launch Deodar.

An autopsy was scheduled for today, and a coroner's inquest would be held.

- NZPA