Sydney  - A body has been found in New Zealand near where Israeli tourist Liat Okin went missing in March.

The 35-year-old was last seen on March 26 at the Mackenzie Hut near Dunedin.

The body was discovered in dense bushland on Friday morning after a backpack and shoes belonging to Okin were found nearby on Thursday by a private search team. Police joined the private searchers on Friday.

The body will be formally identified and a post mortem carried out on Saturday in Dunedin.

Police told the New Zealand Press Association that Okin's family have been told of the discovery of the body. (dpa)