Williamson said formal identification of the foot will take place and police will provide further details as they become available.
Artspace Gallery owner Alfred Memelink saw two boats searching the coastline, one of which he believed to be the Wellington police launch Lady Elizabeth IV.
“They were going up and down, sort of like they had a good search pattern backwards and forwards along the beach.”
It looked like they were scanning for something, Memelink said.
“We usually go for a beach walk every day and for some reason, we didn’t this morning. What went through my mind was that it easily could have been us who came across it, and it would have been pretty gruesome.”
A Petone resident said he saw five police cars show up this morning and the search went on for about four hours.
About six people wearing blue overalls arrived, as well as a dog handler, he said.
“It is very unsettling for the community. We have got old ladies who live just beside us and we are quite worried now, what’s next.”
He said Petone Beach would usually be crowded in fine weather, but this afternoon it was empty.
