Body found after woman jumped off Maruia Falls

Saturday, 23 December 2017

A body has been found after a woman jumped from the top of Maruia Falls off State Highway 65 in the Tasman district.

A police statement said a search began after emergency services were informed a woman in her 20s went missing in the water about 3pm on Saturday. 

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A body was found about 4pm near where the woman jumped in, police said.

'Police are now in the process of notifying next of kin, we are continuing to provide support to others at the scene.'

Local police confirmed the woman was visiting the falls with a group, but were not available to comment further.

The death would be referred to the coroner.

Maruia Falls is located about 50 kilometres south of Murchison in the Tasman district. The 11-metre waterfall was created after the 1929 Murchison earthquake and has been gradually growing in height. 

In 2014, then Conservation Minister Nick Smith called for a review of safety barriers and signage at the falls after Christchurch man Darryl Rolton, 54, died while trying to rescue a friend who was sucked over the falls while swimming in a pool above them.