No foul play in student's death, police say

Police divers recover a body from Clyde Quay Wharf in Wellington today. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Police confirmed this afternoon that the body found in Wellington Harbour this morning was that of missing student Daniel Hansman.

Police said there was nothing to indicate that Daniel was the victim of foul play.

Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Cotter earlier said clothing and other items indicated that the body is that of the 19-year-old.

Divers working from the police launch Lady Elizabeth III found the body at 9.05am today in 10m of water, in an area between the Overseas Passenger Terminal and a breakwater.

The divers had only been in the water a short time at the start of a planned search.

Mr Cotter said the coroner has been advised and the body is now at Wellington Hospital Mortuary for formal identification and a post mortem, which will take place tomorrow.

Mr Cotter said: "Tomorrow's post mortem will shed some light on what happened to Daniel although the cause of death will ultimately be a matter for the coroner."

"Our shared priority was on locating Daniel," Mr Cotter said. "Finding his body wasn't the result we all wished for, but we hope that it will provide his family and those close to him some comfort.

"This is a difficult time for them as they mourn a loved son, brother, friend and colleague. We've worked closely with Daniel's family in the week since he has been missing and our sympathies are with them."

Police continued to keep an area of the harbour cordoned off for several hours after discovering the body, repeatedly sending divers into the water.

Mr Hansman, 19, has been missing since being last seen outside Coyote Bar late last Thursday night after a night out drinking with friends.

The alarm was raised by flatmates of the second-year Victoria University design student, concerned he had not returned home by Friday evening.

Mr Hansman was drunk and, with a friend, had been refused entry to several bars before he vanished while his friend went to the toilet.

His parents Eddie and Jean Hansman have distributed leaflets throughout the Wellington region pleading for information on their son's whereabouts.

Daniel Hansman was described as 1.77m tall with dark hair and a goatee. When he was last seen he was wearing dark jeans, a dark blue-black shirt and black dress shoes.

- NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF