Police name Mahia diver who died while collecting food for tangi

Local boats assisting with the search found the diver about 9am. Photo / NZME

The diver whose body was found off the coast of Mahia on Monday morning was diving to collect food for an uncle's tangi, a relative says.

The man has been identified as 21-year-old Jason Rangi Paul, of Nuhaka and who had been diving on the western side of Mahia when he disappeared on Sunday.

He leaves leaves behind a partner from Mahia, and two children, the relative says.

Boaties assisting with the search found the diver about 9am on Monday, a police spokesperson said.

A relative of the diver's partner said the man was diving in the western side of Mahia.

"He was diving between Rocket Lab [launch site] and Mahia beach, on the western side," he said.

"He was diving for seafood for his uncle's tangi. He wasn't on his own."

He said the diver's partner had a big family and "lots of support" in Mahia.

The man's tangi will also be held later this week, he said.

The Mahia Maori Committee has placed a rahui on the collection of kaimoana [seafood], meaning the collection of seafood is now prohibited in the sea along the western coast of Mahia Peninsula from Kinikini [Long Point] in the north, through to Ahuriri Point [Onenui Station] in the south.

The rahui will be in place from Monday until the day after the burial.