Police have located the body of a person who died following a single vehicle crash into a Bay of Plenty river.

Emergency Services responded to the Waioeka River, Ōpōtiki, around 10:20am on October 4 after they were alerted that a vehicle had gone down a bank into the river, around 2.5km south of the Tauranga Bridge, State Highway 2.

Search and rescue teams, including a boat, helicopter and Coastguard jet skis conducted sweeps of the river and riverbank on Friday, said Senior Sergeant Richard miller.

Unfortunately, the person and vehicle were unable to be located at the time, said Miller.

The crash occurred near the Historic Tauranga Bridge over the Waioeka River. Photo / Laura Smith.

"Since that time police and rescue teams have been on standby ready to respond once the river conditions were right to safely deploy a team to the area.

"On Thursday, the river conditions had cleared sufficiently and police along with search and rescue teams, local jet boat operators, and the Police National Dive Squad responded, searching the river."

Miller said the vehicle was located at about 12.05pm, around 400m from the original crash site.

"The victim was found dead inside the vehicle and has since been successfully recovered.

"Police are pleased to have been able to reunite whānau with their loved one.

"Enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing."