Human jawbone found on beach

Police are trying to work out the identity of a human jawbone found on a Christchurch beach.

Dental records had confirmed the jawbone was not that of missing woman Tisha Lowry, Christchurch police Detective Senior Sergeant Virginia Le Bas said.

Ms Lowry was last seen on September 25 after waving goodbye to her grandfather at the Bower Tavern in suburban New Brighton.

Police have offered a reward of up to $20,000 to find the body of the 29-year-old Christchurch woman.

Ms Le Bas said the human jawbone was found by a member of the public on Waimairi Beach, in Christchurch, about 2.30pm on Friday.

It was found about 4km north of the Waimairi Surf Club.

The bone was found lying fully exposed just a metre from high tide line on the seaward side and appeared to have been recently washed up, Ms Le Bas said.

"This has been confirmed as human but further forensic work will be required to establish any other identification," she said.

- NZPA