A body recovered by the police from a valley north of Wellington is believed to be that of a Paraparaumu man, Raymond Piper, who has been missing since May.
Raymond Piper, 23, went missing from his home in Eatwell Avenue, Paraparaumu Beach on 15 May.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Oxnam says police began searching an area of bush in the Maungakotukutuku Valley near Paraparaumu around 10am on Sunday, but he can't say what lead police to the site.
He says the body was buried at a depth of about a metre.
A post-mortem was being carried out on Monday, after which police hope to be able to formally identify the body.
Mr Piper's sister Aroha Piper, who has visited the site where the body was discovered, says she is sure the remains are those of her brother and says her family can now put Raymond to rest.
Four people have been charged in connection with Raymond Piper's case.
