Man found dead at St Leonards Beach has been identified

Police have identified a man who was found dead at St Leonards Beach on the North Shore on Sunday afternoon. Emergency services were called to the northern end of the beach at approximately 5.45pm after reports of a body in the water.

A member of the public pulled the man from the ocean and attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Acting Detective Inspector Megan Goldie of the Waitematā CIB confirmed that the man's next of kin has been advised.

“Work is ongoing to determine the circumstances of the man’s death,” Goldie said.

This incident occurred three days after another man was found dead at Big Manly Beach on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula. There have been 71 drownings in New Zealand since the start of 2026, which is higher than the average for the last decade and the same period in 2025.

How it developed

• Mon 2 Nov, 8:58amPolice identified the man following a public appeal for information and confirmed his next of kin had been notified.

Where reports differ

• Earlier reports described the man as being of Asian descent, aged 40-50 or possibly in his early 60s, wearing blue jeans with a bike tyre inner-tube belt, but later reports stated he had been identified.

Compiled from reports by NZ Herald, RNZ, 1News and Stuff.