The body found lodged in a stormwater drain in central Wellington yesterday was that of a man, police say.
A member of the public found the body near Te Papa, the national museum, close to the central Wellington waterfront. It was found near a car park used for a market on Sundays.
Investigation head Detective Inspector Paul Basham said the man's body was removed from the drain overnight and a post mortem examination would be carried out this morning.
The death was unexplained and was being treated as suspicious.
"It is certainly an unusual circumstance to locate a body in a stormwater culvert,'' Mr Basham said.
"We anticipate the post mortem examination will help us determine whether the death was potentially suspicious or accidental.''
A scene examination would continue today, with the Fire Service assisting with "scene management and providing some technical support''.
The New Zealand Defence Force had also been involved, providing a heavy duty tent to cordon and contain the scene due to the strong winds in Wellington yesterday.
The man's name would not be released until formal identification had been completed and next of kin advised, Mr Basham said.
