Searchers out on the Mahurangi River on Friday, looking for the missing 47 year old. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell
A body has been recovered from the Mahurangi River, police say, after a driver was swept away in a car on Wednesday morning.
Searchers, including whitewater raft teams and drone operators had been scouring the area, as several North Island regions struggled with severe rain, flooding, landslides and storms this week.
The body was recovered from the river on Saturday evening as part of the search, Waitematā Police Inspector Simon Walker said.
Formal identification was still underway, but police said they were confident it was a 47-year-old man from Kiribati who had been reported missing.
Fire and Emergency earlier said two people had been in the car and attempted to cross a ford through the flooded river when they got into trouble. The passenger was able to escape, and seek help.
"Family members have been informed and are being supported by police," Walker said, and the man's death was not believed to be suspicious.
Search teams scoured the river downstream from Falls Rd. Photo: RNZ / Finn Blackwell
The river search had been difficult, he said.
"Police would like to acknowledge and thank the many people and teams involved in the search over recent days, including Land Search and Rescue, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, other supporting agencies, and the many community members who assisted in challenging conditions."
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