UPDATED 11am: The beach at Shark Alley near Moturilki Island has ben re-opened to the public after a body was removed from the beach earlier today.

It was that of a man, believed to be a 22 year old foreign national, say Tauranga Police in a statement.

Police have closed part of the beach. Picture: Cameron Avery

Police believe he entered the water in the early hours of Monday 28 December, he was found floating in the surf by a member of the public at about 0630 today.

Enquiries are currently being made to determine the deceased's identity. The matter has been referred to the Coroner.

The body was seen floating in the water a few hundred metres south of Moturiki Island shortly after 6am.

It is a suspected drowning, but cause of death will not be confirmed until the pathologist's report is available.

Moturiki Island, or Leisure Island, is located south of Mt Maunganui's Main Beach.

Police at the beach. Photo: Cameron Avery