Formal identification would now take place.
The man's death will now be handed over to the coroner, he said.
Waikato police Senior Sergeant Vince Ranger said the body was discovered by a man collecting paua at the beach.
"He was down there collecting paua and he saw something that he thought was a body but he didn't get too close to it and reported it to police."
Police were informed of the body on Sunday but due to nightfall and difficult terrain the search was left until the following morning.
"It takes a long time to get out there and a long time to get down and communications are really bad," Simpson said.