Dead man in drain treated as suspicious

The death is unexplained and being treated as suspicious. Photo / Thinkstock

The body found lodged in a stormwater drain in central Wellington on Sunday was that of a man, police say.

A member of the public found the body near Te Papa, the national museum, close to the central Wellington waterfront. It was found near a carpark used for a regular Sunday market.

Investigation head Detective Inspector Paul Basham said the man's body was removed from the drain overnight for a post-mortem examination.

The death was unexplained and was being treated as suspicious.

"It is certainly an unusual circumstance to locate a body in a stormwater culvert," Mr Basham said.

"We anticipate the post-mortem examination will help us determine whether the death was potentially suspicious or accidental."

A scene examination was continuing, and the Fire Service was assisting with "scene management and providing some technical support".

The New Zealand Defence Force had also been involved, providing a heavy-duty tent to cordon and contain the scene because of the strong winds in Wellington.

Mr Basham said the man would not be named until formal identification had been completed and his next of kin had been advised.