Body washes up at Mt Maunganui beach

UPDATE 12.39pm: The body of the man has been identified by police, and next of kin have been notified.

10.22am: Police could not rule out foul play at this stage, and said the discovery was still being investigated.

Mt Maunganui Surf general manager Glenn Bradley confirmed the club had helped move the body from the main beach, near the viewing platform, to the hearse, by the surf club at the base of the Mount.

9.22am:The body found at Mt Maunganui beach this morning has been described as a man in his mid-40s.

Police confirmed they were investigating the grisly discovery after a member of the public called police just before 8am today.

The man's body had been found in the surf between Leisure Island and the main beach and had to be retrieved from the water.

9.03am: The body found at Mt Maunganui beach this morning has now been removed.

Police at the scene where a man's body was found at Mount Maunganui's main beach this morning. Photo/John Borren

A reporter at the scene said officers removed the man's body at about 8.55am and placed it on a ute, which went to the Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service clubrooms.

8.34pm: Police have confirmed a body was found at the beach. They were notified at 7.56am of a body in the water near Leisure Island.

"The body is fully clothed and has now been retrieved from the water," said a spokesperson.

Detectives are at the scene.

8.21am: A reporter at the scene said the body looks to be a man of average build, fully dressed in dark clothing.

Four police are standing by the body in the middle of the main beach, and have covered the body.

Surf conditions are relatively calm.

8am: Reports have come in of a body on the beach at Mt Maunganui, near Leisure Island, just before 8am this morning.