14 Oct 2012

Bodies of pair recovered from abandoned mine shaft

10:07 pm on 14 October 2012

The bodies of two men found in an abandoned mine on the Coromandel Peninsula are being formally identified by their families on Sunday.

Police have yet to release their names or the cause of death.

The bodies were found late on Saturday and removed from the shaft, which is just outside Whitianga on The 309 Road, on Sunday afternoon.

Radio New Zealand has been told by local people the victims lived in the area and were in their forties.

It's believed the partner of one of the men contacted police after he did not return home at a pre-arranged time.

Locals say a generator and a gas bottle were in the mine shaft where the bodies were found.

A post mortem will be held in Auckland on Monday.