Almost 50 years after the disappearance of Graeme Leslie Timlin, whose van was found abandoned on Marine Parade, a coronial inquest will be held.

The 19-year-old Hamilton baker disappeared in May in 1965 when a shop assistant arrived at the bakery to find the dough prepared, the ovens on and meringues sitting on the beach.

Graeme's van was found five days later empty on Marine Parade in Mount Maunganui. There has been no sign on the teenager since.

Scott Bainbridge investigated Graeme's disappearance in the book ‘Still Missing' in 2008.

Scott says weeks after Graeme was reported missing, a fisherman found a body fitting his description in the water off Kawau Island but a police search failed to find any trace of the body.

A coronial inquest in 1977 presumed the missing man dead but no death certificate was issued or signed.

At an inquest before Coroner Gordon Matenga in Hamilton District Court today, Graeme's death will be formalised and official papers filed.