Police have identified the body found washed up near the New Plymouth Coastal Walkway yesterday as missing Bell Block teenager Nikolao Meafua. Police said the identity of the body had been confirmed through a post mortem. Sixteen-year-old Nikolao, known as Niko, went missing from his Bell Block home on June 10th 2013 after an argument with his mother. Police and volunteers scoured walkways and beaches for two weeks before they called off the search for the New Plymouth Boys’ High School student last Friday 21st June 2013. Yesterday, Tuesday 25th June 2013 a person using the coastal walkway found Niko’s body on the rocks near the coastal walkway at Kawaroa Park about 2.30pm. Police closed off a section of the walkway in front of the aquatic centre while detectives, uniformed officers and St John paramedics investigated. Police now say it appeared the body could have been in the water for some time. Police said Niko’s family has been notified and his death referred to the coroner.
