A woman has been found dead after going missing in the water in Northland near the mouth of the Waipu River.

Emergency teams spent the morning searching for the woman after she was reported missing overnight.

The alarm was raised around midnight when the woman’s friends saw her enter the water near the mouth of the Waipu River but not return, police said.

Coastguard and Waipu Cove Surf Life Saving conducted shoreline searches.

Police said she was found by volunteers from Coastguard Whangārei around midday Saturday.

Her death will be referred to a coroner, police said.

Searchers included six volunteers from Coastguard Whangārei launching their rescue vessel Circa Rescue at 12.40am to begin looking for the woman.

The initial search, supported by Waipu Cove Surf Life Saving Club and a rescue helicopter, continued until 3am.

Coastguard Whangārei and Northland Coastguard Air Patrol resumed the search at 8am today.