A second body has been recovered from the Waikato River - believed to be a 25-year-old swept downstream on Saturday

Searchers located the body thought to be Teananga Tiotia, just before 10 this morning.

Just hours earlier, a vehicle was found in the river, with the body of 39-year-old Aydan Brown inside - missing since August.

Both deaths have been referred to the Coroner, and formal identification is under way.

The discoveries follow a series of recent drownings in Akaroa, Lower Kaimai, Mahia Peninsula, and Gisborne's Okitu Beach.