Man who died in Kaikoura water incident named

Police have released the name of the man who died following a water incident at Kaikoura on New Year's Day.

He was Reece Nahana John Thomas (36), of Kaikoura.

Mr Thomas' body was found after he went missing at a beach in Kaikoura on January 1.

Emergency services were alerted, and the Canterbury Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched but was stood down after a local pilot retrieved the body.

The death has been referred to the Coroner.