3pm: Police believe a body found in Waihou River today is that of missing Waihi teen John Balchin.
Senior Sergeant Graham Shields told the Bay of Plenty Times the body found matched the description of the 18-year-old who went missing yesterday.
At approximately 12.30pm today Waikato Police Search and Rescueteams located the body where the Puriri Stream met the Waihou River.
The man is yet to be formally identified.
Thames Police still wish to hear from anybody who may have any information about the movements of Mr Balchin who went missing in the Puriri area yesterday afternoon.
2.27pm: Police and Search and Rescue are searching the rural area between Puriri and Matatoki for an 18-year-old man who went missing yesterday afternoon.
John Balchin was last seen running across farmland near Puriri about 2pm yesterday afternoon.
Police have considerable concerns for Mr Balchin's safety.
Mr Balchin is Caucasian, of medium build and around 6 feet tall. When last seen he was wearing a white shirt and black pants.
Mr Balchin went to Waihi College but had since left.
If anybody has any information about Mr Balchin's whereabouts or has seen anything unusual in the area since 2pm yesterday, please get in touch with Thames Police at 07 211 6224.
