Mystery over woman's body in NSW river

Authorities have made a fresh appeal for information about the death of a woman whose body was found in the Hunter River, north of Newcastle.

Police on Wednesday identified the woman as Elizabeth Small, 66, from Maitland, but have not established the cause of death.

Ms Small's body was found by a kayaker in the river at Lorn, near Maitland, about 11.30am on Sunday.

The last confirmed sighting of Ms Small was about 2.30pm on December 2, when she was seen using an ATM outside a building society on Beaumont Street in Hamilton, Newcastle.

She was reported missing by her husband last week.