Body found on beach to undergo post mortem today

Police are hoping today to learn the identity of a body found washed up on Wairarapa's east coast yesterday.

Senior Sergeant Terry O'Neill, of Masterton, said the body, of a middle-aged man, was now in a Wellington mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

He hoped the results would be available later today.

Dental records were likely to be used, Mr O'Neill said.

The body was discovered about 1.30pm on Ocean Beach, southeast of Masterton.

Yesterday Senior Sergeant Murray Johnston, also of Masterton, said the body could be that of 53-year-old Christchurch man Mike Smith.

Mr Smith was presumed drowned after being lost overboard from a yacht near Cape Campbell, near Clifford Bay in Marlborough, on November 14.

He fell overboard from the 12m sloop Yvonne when it was swamped and rolled in rough seas.

- NZPA