Human skeletal remains found on Auckland beach could have been in water for a fortnight

Police believe 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 at around 5.20am today, after they were washed onto the foreshore.

Detective Sergeant Ross Clapp says Police have been working to identify the remains, which were found near the Hauraki Road access point.

A tarpaulin covers human remains on Takapuna beach. Photo / Jason Oxenham

He says they are uncertain at this stage of the gender.

Formal identification may take some time.

Hauraki Rd resident Arthur Mahy, who is the brother of celebrated late children's book author Margaret Mahy, heard a noise outside when he woke to use the bathroom this morning.

Mahy lives immediately behind the beachfront property next to the one at which the remains were found and can see the pedestrian access to the beach from his home.

"I saw two police cars arrive and a bather came running up to the [pedestrian] entrance and then pointed."

He was tired and went back to bed, but his wife, Pam Mahy, went to speak with their neighbour about 7am.

Neither their neighbour nor police were 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 where the remains were found had recently been the site of earthmoving work.

"They took away a lot of timber logs and boards."

And although it appeared today to be beyond the high tide mark, the water sometimes reached to where the remains were found, Mahy said.

A house had also been shifted off the site many years ago, he said.

Access to the beach was restricted earlier today as police carried out a scene examination, but it has now been reopened.

Hauraki Rd resident Mary Norton and her disappointed border collie cross Mo were among walkers turned away this morning.

"We were told that, on the beach, somebody had washed up. It's just terrible, so sad."

John Fillmore owns the beachfront property outside which the remains were covered by a tarpaulin this morning.

Police search the area after human remains were found on Takapuna beach. Photo / Jason Oxenham

"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 at the moment, 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.

"I didn't know what was happening at first. I thought there must've been a burglary.

"There must've been 12 police officers out there, there was a hell of a lot."

The Herald asked police this morning if they had any information yet on the identity of the remains or how they came to be on the beach.

We also asked police for details on missing persons' cases being considered and whether they had been contacted today by any family or friends of missing people.

A police spokeswoman said it was too early to give answers to our questions.

"We have a team of investigators working on this and are working to identify the remains as soon as possible, however at this stage I have no indication how long this might take."