Police work to identify beach body
Police say human remains found at an Auckland beach may have been in the water for one to two weeks.
A member of the public discovered the remains at Takapuna Beach about 5.20am yesterday after they were washed on to the foreshore.
Police have been working to identify the remains, found near the Hauraki Rd access point.
They were uncertain about the person’s gender, saying formal identification may take some time.
Hauraki Rd resident Arthur Mahy, brother of a celebrated Kiwi writer, the late Margaret Mahy, heard a noise outside yesterday morning.
“I saw two police cars arrive and a bather came running up to the [pedestrian] entrance.”
His wife, Pam Mahy, went to speak with their neighbour about 7am. Neither their neighbour nor police was able to say what was going on, but she saw forensics officers in white boiler suits, as well as a police photographer.
Mahy said the area near where the remains were found had been the site of earthmoving work.
A house had also been shifted off the site many years ago, he said.
John Fillmore owns the beachfront property outside which the remains were covered by a tarpaulin yesterday morning.
“The police told me that a body had washed up and [it appeared to me] that they’d taken it and wrapped it up outside my place.”
Given the tides, he said it was not possible for the body to have been washed up next to his fence.
It was a shocking moment when he realised what was going on, Fillmore said.
“There must’ve been 12 police officers out there, there was a hell of a lot.”
The Herald asked police yesterday for details on missing persons’ cases being considered and whether they had been contacted by any family or friends of missing people.
A police spokeswoman said it was too early to give answers.
“We have a team of investigators working on this ... [but] have no indication how long this might take.”