Searchers have recovered a body at Abbey Caves in Northland where a student was missing after a school trip during bad weather on Tuesday.

Northland District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill announced the discovery of the body shortly before 6.30am today.

He said the body was found late on Tuesday night after police continued the search using specialist equipment brought up from Auckland.

The Year 11 student from Whangārei Boys' High School went missing during a trip in to the caves with a school party.

The search for the missing student had been expected to conclude around 5pm yesterday, however, the equipment meant it could continue into the evening, Hill said.

"This helped enable searchers to locate a body, which was successfully recovered late yesterday evening. As such, the search has now concluded," Hill said.

"While formal ID of the body is yet to take place, police are ensuring the family is being offered support, and our thoughts remain with them at this tragic time."

Some cordons will remain in place around the caves area while police continued to conduct a routine scene examination, he said.

"We acknowledge this event has been very distressing for the school and wider community, and that there are a number of questions the public will have.

"At the moment, police's focus is on supporting those affected, and we remind people to please not make assumptions as to what has occurred."

Fourteen other students and two adults reported being in trouble around 10.30am on Tuesday but made it out of the caves to safety, where they helped by search and rescue teams and St John Ambulance.

Ngāti Kahu o Torongare me Ngā Hapū o Whangārei has closed the area until a rāhui is lifted.

The hapū has extended it condolences to the whānau of the student. It has also acknowledged the work of Land Search and Rescue, the police, FENZ and anyone else who supported the emergency response.

It offered codolences to staff and students at Whangārei Boys High School also.

In a statement yesterday, the school's principal Karen Gilbert-Smith promised a full investigation into the trip would be held.