9 Jan 2019

Body found on Piha beach identified as missing teenager

6:33 pm on 9 January 2019

A body found north of Piha has been identified as that of a teenager who went missing 11 days ago.

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Piha beach Photo: 123rf.com

Police have confirmed he was 16-year-old Episami Pasiaka of Avondale.

He was reported missing from Whatipu - an unpatrolled beach near the entrance of Manukau Harbour - on 29 December and searchers combed the area for six days, before the search was scaled back.

The body was recovered north of Piha Beach after being spotted by a police helicopter on Monday night.