Update: 11.20am A body has been found off the shore of Mount Maunganui this morning.

Police, surf lifesavers and the Coastguard have returned to shore with what is believed to be the body of a teenage boy who was swept off rocks on Leisure Island yesterday.

Surf lifeguards close clubrooms. Photo: Supplied.

The surf club is currently closed to the public as police and surf lifeguards bring the body ashore.

Police have confirmed the body found is that of the teenage boy who went missing yesterday.

More details to follow.

Earlier: 9.25am The search continues for a teenage boy who was swept off rocks on Leisure Island yesterday.

Police, surf lifesavers, the Coastguards, family of the teenager and volunteers gathered this morning at the Surf Lifesaving Club at first light to continue the search for the teenage boy who went missing yesterday afternoon.

The search for the missing teenage boy continues. Photos: Supplied.

Police are working closely with Surf Life Saving New Zealand, Coastguard and LandSAR to cover the search area.

Last night all three agencies were deployed together with the TECT Rescue helicopter in initial response to calls from members of the public that the boy had been washed into the sea.

The conditions last night and again this morning are very challenging with a large swell present in the Search Area.

Police are asking anyone in the area either on land or at sea to be vigilant and report any possible sighting on the young man. At the time he was wearing a pair of Dark Blue shorts.

Moturiki Island was closed to the public last night but the track is open again this morning and Police and Council are asking people to stay on the Tracks due to the Surf Conditions.

Stay tuned in for any breaking developments.

Earlier: 9.43PM A teenage boy is missing after reportedly being swept off the rocks of Leisure Island this evening.

The 17-year-old local boy was with friends when he was believed to have been washed into the sea by a large wave about 7pm and hasn't been seen since.

The search for the missing teenager will resume tomorrow morning. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

There are IRBs and Tauranga Volunteer Coastguard searching for the missing teenager.

Police have closed access to the island.

Lifeguards, police and St John ambulance are on the scene. A helicopter is also circling above the island.

A SunLive reader at the scene says the surf is "really huge".

Sergeant Rich Martin says it looks like a 17-year-old boy has gone missing off the Blowhole at the end of Leisure Island. "I can't remember exactly what time it was, time has gone so quick.

Rich says the entire surf club was out searching for the missing teenager. He believes the boy was with a couple of friends when the incident occurred.

He says the search has been called off at the moment and will resume at first light tomorrow.

"The sea conditions aren't that brilliant to conduct the search. There's a real huge swell out there."

Moturiki Island, known as Leisure Island, is located just off Mount Maunganui beach. It is connected to the beach by a man made land bridge.

Keep checking SunLive for updates.

Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Photo: Cameron Avery.

Photo: supplied.

Photo: supplied.