A body has been found in the search for a man missing on Mount Tongariro this afternoon.
Police confirmed just after 2:30pm today they and Land Search and Rescue found a body while searching for the missing 53-year-old.
"A karakia will be held on Mangatepopo Road at 3pm today and a rāhui will be put in place on the Tongariro Crossing for three days," Police said in a statement.
It's understood four men set out at 8am yesterday to hike over the Tongariro Alpine Crossing from Ketetahi to Mangatepopo.
The group stayed together until the bush edge below Ketetahi Hut, where three of the men continued without the missing man.
Police were notified the man was missing by his wife when he did not return to his vehicle around 5pm yesterday.
An initial Police and Land Search and Rescue search continued until after midnight last night in blizzard conditions without success and reconvened at 7am this morning with four teams and helicopter assistance.
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