Police find missing hunter's body

Mr Moko's body was found by members of the coastguard and and Maketu surf patrol. File photo / Alan Gibson

Police have found the body of an elderly hunter who was swept down a Bay of Plenty river on Saturday.

Riri Ngahu Moko, 70, from Te Puke, had been hunting with another man when their dogs chased a pig across the Kaituna River in Paengaroa, 10km southeast of Te Puke.

The hunters tried to swim across the river about 5.30pm to continue the chase but Mr Moko disappeared.

His body was found by members of the coastguard and Maketu surf patrol about 10am today, about 1km from where he entered the river, a police spokesman said.

Search and rescue members had earlier scoured the river banks and a boat had done a sweep of the river on Saturday and Sunday.

The Okere Gates on the Kaituna River were closed yesterday afternoon to lower the river level to help the search, a Bay of Plenty Regional Council spokesperson said.

- NZPA