Freemans Bay homicide investigation: Dead baby found in Auckland wheelie bin

A newborn baby’s body has been found in a wheelie bin in the central Auckland suburb of Freemans Bay.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard said police discovered the child about 10pm last night on Renall St.

“Sadly, I can confirm the deceased is a newborn baby, and they were discovered in a wheelie bin outside an address,” Beard, of Auckland City CIB, said in a statement.

“A woman is in custody and police are speaking with her to establish the circumstances around what has occurred.”

Police are not seeking anyone else.

Flowers were at the scene after a newborn baby was found inside a wheelie bin outside an address in Renall St Ponsonby, this morning. Photo / Dean Purcell

“This is a tragedy for everyone concerned and there is a person’s wellbeing to consider here alongside the investigation, so we will ensure the woman gets the support she needs,” Beard said.

“Police acknowledge this will understandably be quite confronting information for the community to grapple with.”

Police cordon off street

Earlier today police cordoned off Renall St, off Ponsonby Rd, as they investigated the discovery.

The cordon was in place late on Wednesday afternoon.

A bouquet of pink roses had been laid at the cordon.

A resident told the Herald that police were at the property late last night.

Renall St remained cordoned off while police investigated the death of a newborn baby.

A scene guard was standing at the taped-off crossing and several police cars could be seen.

From the cordon, police wearing gloves could be seen entering and exiting a property that itself was wrapped in police tape.

A local cafe worker told the Herald police had said “not to touch anything” near the street.

According to staff from another nearby cafe, police said they believed there was no danger to the community.

Police at the scene would not comment.

Police have confirmed that a baby was found deceased at the scene. Photo / Carson Bluck

Residents allege problems at property

A local who worked at a nearby store told the Herald they had frequently heard yelling and smashing from the property over the past 18 months.

The worker said she and other colleagues were often “terrified” of taking their bins out as a man at the property would yell at her.

She told the Herald she had seen the man at the property dressed as a clown, standing behind a frosted window.

He was also seen in costume on the street, she said.

Another worker nearby told the Herald he “always heard a ruckus” at the property. “They were always cars being smashed out the front.”

Police blocked off Renall St, off Ponsonby Rd, this morning after an incident. Photo / Carson Bluck

A former Renall St resident said there had been serious problems in the past with the occupants.

“Last week they smashed up some cars on the road,” she alleged.

Another resident echoed the concerns.

“We don’t know what’s happened, but this isn’t surprising.”

Post-mortem taking place

A post-mortem was taking place today to determine the next steps in the homicide investigation, Baird said.

“The result is not yet known, and police will provide further updates as the investigation allows. We would ask the public to avoid speculation given what has occurred and allow investigators to carry out their work.”

Police blocked off Renall St, off Ponsonby Rd, during initial investigations of the incident. Photo / Carson Bluck

Police would be canvassing the area as part of the investigation, and seeking CCTV from Renall St residents.

“We will ... also [be] searching other wheelie bins in order to secure any additional evidence that may be relevant to the investigation.”

Anyone with information should report it via 105, using the file number 250630/9878 and quoting ‘Operation Yarrow’.

“Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-nz.org."

In 2021, a baby girl was found dead at an Auckland recycling facility.

The mother of the baby, found among recycling at the Onehunga plant, was never found.

“This baby girl is laying in a mortuary with no name and no one to give her the funeral she deserves so she can be laid to rest,” Beard previously said.

Another dead baby was found in a rubbish bin at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital in 2021.

At the time, a source told the Herald the infant was found in a toilet rubbish bin.

It is understood the mother had been taken to hospital by family members shortly before the baby was born.

Police charged a woman who pleaded guilty to concealing the dead body of a child.

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