A body has been recovered north of Piha Beach after being spotted by the police Eagle helicopter last night.
Police believe it is the body of swimmer who went missing at Whatipu Beach. Photo: 123RF
Police said they believed it to be a 16-year-old swimmer reported missing from Whatipu Beach - an unpatrolled beach near the entrance to the Manukau Harbour - on 29 December.
Searches were carried out for six days before being scaled back.
A post mortem and a formal identification will now be carried out.