By 1news.co.nz and is republished with permission
A body has been discovered at reserve in Auckland’s Gulf Harbour this afternoon, reportedly wrapped in layers of plastic bags.
The body was found by members of the public near Laurie Southwick Parade, which is close to Gulf Harbour Marina, shortly after 3pm.
“At this stage, police are treating the death as unexplained,” a spokesperson said.
Police said there was no immediate risk to the public in relation to the death and have cordoned off the area while enquiries were made nearby.
“Further information will be provided when available”.
RNZ reported fisherman Paul Middleton was in the Whangaparāoa area trying to catch some some decent-sized kawai or snapper when he discovered the human remains wrapped in rubbish bags.
He had gone to Army Bay this morning, but had not found much fish so he came back around the ferry terminal.
“I [threw] my lure out … and nothing much was happening but there was a bag out there.”
Middleton said he did not know it was a bag at the time, and told RNZ he thought it was a log or a dead animal.
He said he struggled through “layer and layer” of plastic to open the bag and “lo and behold, a hand appears”.