Discovery of body treated as homicide

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a body was found in Gisborne's Botanical Gardens today.

The body was found at about 6.30am and the cause of death was unknown, Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Scott of Gisborne police said in a statement.

The body, believed to be a male, could be clearly seen from the road as it lay in the middle of the gardens.

It was not known if the death was related to five other incidents overnight involving weapons and serious violence that police were investigating, Mr Scott said.

- NZPA