Skeleton could have been in creek for months

File photo / NZ HERALD

A skeleton found in a creek in Stanmore Bay could have been there for weeks or even months, police say.

It is believed an eight-year-old boy playing in a reserve on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula stumbled upon the skeleton, which had fabric and some hair attached.

A parent tried to fish it out with a broomstick but could not and the police were called.

Detective Inspector Bruce Scott of the Waitemata Police said outside the cordon today the body had been there for at least a few weeks but possibly months.

"It appears to have been there for quite some time. It appears to be quite decomposed."

A pathologist was at the scene and the body would be removed from the creek and taken for a post-mortem and identification today.

When asked if it was missing woman Alanah Brough he said: "There's always a possibility it could be a female person in the creek."

He said Ms Brough hadn't been seen since she went missing in February.

"Until we have identified the body we won't know for sure if it is this missing woman.

"She hasn't been sighted since she went missing. This has been an on-going missing persons investigation we have been following closely."

Mr Scott said police were still looking to talk to witnesses and there was no cause for concern for nearby residents.

Rodney area commander Inspector Janet Hope earlier said police were investigating how the body came to be in the stream. She said there was no indication of its identity.

The creek runs behind the local leisure centre and is next to a rugby league club.

Forensic staff are now at the scene.

- Alanah May Eriksen and Newstalk ZB

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