Person found dead in Henderson, West Auckland, body located in Riverpark Reserve

A person was found dead in a reserve in the West Auckland suburb of Henderson this afternoon.

The body was found in the Riverpark Reserve at the end of Bittern Place around 12.40pm.

A police spokesman said the death is being treated as unexplained at this time.

Pictures from the reserve show police entering the mangroves and wet weather gear can be seen being unloaded from a police van.

A blue search-and-rescue forensic tent was also set up.

Shortly before 3.35pm, the body was removed from the scene.

Forensic staff have since disestablished their tent and left the scene.

Police said inquiries are ongoing to determine what occurred and a post-mortem examination would be conducted in the coming days.

A resident said it felt “creepy” to have a dead body by the lake. The woman, who didn’t want to be named, said the reserve was popular with locals, with many families using the area over weekends. She was heading there for a walk but said she would now walk somewhere else instead.

“It’s a lovely, serene spot, and it feels creepy having a dead body there,” she said. “I’m just hoping it’s not a homicide, but something less sinister like [a] medical [event] or suicide,” she said.

Hato Hone St John was called to the reserve but was not required for transportation of the body.

A person has been found dead at a reserve off Bittern Place in the West Auckland suburb of Henderson. Photo / Hayden Woodward