Mortar discovered in Wellington home

Photo / NZ Police

A Wellington family clearing out a dead relative's home got more than they bargained for when they stumbled upon a mortar.

Inspector Ken Climo from central police communications said police received a phone call from the family who found the mortar in a garage at the Khandallah property today.

"It was stored in a brown paper bag."

The bomb disposal unit were called to the property to determine whether it posed a danger.

'Police are not experts in this sort of thing, we don't know whether it's live or it's not," Mr Climo said.