'Highly likely' body is one of missing - police

Police say it's highly likely a body found at the bottom of Paritutu Rock is one of the three climbers who went missing 12 days ago.

Bryce Jourdain dived into the sea to rescue two students who fell while climbing with a school group.

New Plymouth Sergeant Andrew Ross says it's not known if the body is the instructor or one of the students, but there was a climbing helmet still on the person's head.

The find was made this morning by a member of the public.

"This morning, about seven o'clock, one of the powerstation employees went down to open the gate to the powerstation. While he was there he though (he'd) just have a look over the breakwater and had a look into the sea and found a body floating there.

"So what we've done is recovered that body this morning."

The discovery is being referred to the Coroner for formal identification.

Mr Ross says the families of the three have been informed of the latest development.

"We've been speaking with the coroner today. There's certain standards of proof that they require for identification before they can release names. We need to be sure it is the person before we start talking about names."

Police say the body is in a good shape which means the process of identification shouldn't be difficult.

Photo: The three missing - Bryce Jourdain and 17-year-old students Stephen Kahukaka-Gedye and Felipe Melo (supplied)