Police are working to establish the identity of a man’s body discovered on the rocks near New Plymouth’s Kawaroa Park today, Tuesday 25th June 2013. A member of the public using the Coastal Walkway found the body about 2.30pm and reported it to police. Police closed off a section of the walkway in front of the aquatic centre while detectives, uniformed officers and St John paramedics investigated. Close attention was paid to an area directly in front of the centre’s hydroslides. The fire brigade was called in to move rocks from the area so the body could be removed. Police said it appeared the body could have been in the water for some time and they now have to work through things like dental records and DNA to establish the identity. Police could not confirm the body was that of New Plymouth Boys’ High student Nikolao Meafua, 16, who has been missing since June 10 after he left his Bell Block home following an argument with his mother. Police can’t comment on that at the moment, they still have to establish the identity. The Police would not comment on the condition of the body or whether it was clothed.
