Police have identified Waikato man Matthew Knight as the person whose body was located near the mouth of the Mohaka River last week.
The 19-year-old from Te Awamutu was reported missing in the northern Hawke’s Bay area over a month ago on October 9, with police saying at the time there was “clear evidence” linking Knight to the Raupunga-Mohaka area.
“Police are working to support Matthew’s family at this difficult time. The matter has been referred to the coroner,” a police spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Numerous searches and inquiries were conducted to find Knight, centred around the Mohaka railway viaduct and the surrounding river.
A police dive squad was commissioned, with a spokesperson saying rain and the water level of the river, as well as debris from Cyclone Gabrielle, had made the area “high risk” and challenging for those searching.
