UPDATED 9.28AM Te Kuiti High School students are being offered extra support as they come to terms with the death of 17-year-old local Ocean Heke.

Her body was found on State Highway 3 just north of Otorohanga at about 6.30am Sunday.

Te Kuiti High School acting principal Ripeka Price said they have a social worker on site and have set up a special room for students to go to.

"The year group that will be most affected will be our senior students, our year 13s, because Ocean would have been a year 13 had she been still attending our school."

Ms Price said if she needs to call in a Ministry of Education crisis team she will, but she wants to gauge the mood of students first.

Otorohanga Mayor Max Baxter said suspicions are flying around, but little is known.

"There's a lot of speculation out there, a lot of unanswered questions as to the circumstances around this tragic incident."

He urged anyone with information to contact police.

"I'm sure there's are a number of people that do have an understanding of what has gone on.

"If there is someone out there who is hiding something, I do hope they come forward for the sake of family and friends."