UPDATED 1.49PM: Police say a death near State Highway One north of Wellington isn't thought to be suspicious or self-inflicted.

A member of the public found the body of the man washed up on the rocks at Paekakariki just after 9 o'clock this morning.

The incident caused traffic problems at Pukerua Bay for a time as a stretch of the highway was closed for police to recover the body.

A police spokesperson says they're trying to identify the person now, and they'll carry out a post-mortem examination tomorrow.

New Plymouth man, Jared Anderson, 35, has been missing, presumed drowned, since early last week when his small inflatable boat overturned in the Otaki River.