Waikato Police are awaiting the results of forensic examinations and a post-mortem as they seek to identify a body found submerged in the Waikato River yesterday morning.
Police were called to the Meremere Wharf, off Drag Way shortly before 9am after the master of a barge tying up at a pier noticed what appeared to be a body in the water next to his vessel.
Detectives, a Police Kaumatua, Search and Rescue and a Wellington based Dive Squad were called to the scene to assist in the body's recovery which was completed shortly after 7pm.
Due to being submerged for a considerable period of time Police are unable to speculate on the sex or identity of the person found other than to say the body was small in stature.
The skeletal remains were transported to Auckland overnight and a variety of tests and a post-mortem examination are expected to be carried there early in the week.
The body's discovery has been reported to the Coroner.
Note to media; given the condition of the body when discovered Waikato Police are not able to be drawn on any premature identification. No further information, other than what is contained in this release is available at this time and the enquiry team (including the Comms Manager) are unavailable for further comment.
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