The man who went missing on Saturday in water near Wairere Falls, northeast of Matamata, has been found deceased.

Police, search and rescue staff located the man’s body late on Sunday afternoon.

“Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this very sad time. His death has been referred to the coroner,” a police statement said.

Wairere Falls. Photo / Gary Clare.

The Wairere Falls Track in the Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park remained closed on Sunday as the search continued for the man who went missing in the river near the falls on Saturday.

Police said the man had been last seen around 11.50am on Saturday, when a witness reported seeing him fall into the fast-moving river below Wairere Falls.

“Despite their best efforts, they were unable to reach the individual,” police said in a statement.

Emergency services including Te Aroha - Paeroa Search & Rescue, the Swift Water Rescue Team, Fire and Emergency NZ, Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR), and a Police Search and Rescue helicopter responded to the scene. While the Swift Water Rescue Team was later stood down, other teams continued searching until nightfall.

Te Aroha - Paeroa Search and Rescue members searching for the missing man at the river near Wairere Falls. Photo/ Paeroa Search and Rescue

The search resumed on Sunday morning.

As a precaution and to support search efforts, the Department of Conservation (DOC) closed the Wairere Falls Track until further notice.

In a statement on its website on Sunday, DOC said, “DOC is supporting Police as they investigate a reported incident at Wairere Falls. The track is closed until further notice. All queries should be directed to the Police.”

"A small iwi rōpu from Te Puāwaitanga o Ngāti Hinerangi Iwi went to the site on Sunday morning to place a rāhui over the site to help keep the search and rescue team safe as they go about their mahi," a statement reads on the Te Aroha - Paeroa Search & Rescue Facebook page.

"The rāhui, placed by iwi and upheld by DOC and the NZ Police, confirms the closure of this track until further notice."

A rāhui has been placed over the site at Wairere Falls following the death of a man who went missing in the water on Saturday. Photo/Te Aroha-Paeroa Search & Rescue.

"Our thoughts and karakia are with the whānau of the matua who tragically died at Te Wairere after falling into the water yesterday [Saturday]," a Te Puāwaitanga o Ngāti Hinerangi Iwi spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday evening..

"Please respect this restriction by avoiding this area and please discourage others who are thinking of going too.

"We will update everyone on the reopening date of the track as soon as possible."

The popular Wairere Falls Track winds through native bush, across moss-covered rocks and tangled tree roots, with large boulders forming natural pools and cascading waterfalls.