Lower Hutt police are investigating the death of a newborn baby whose body has been discovered at property in Taita.
Inspector Shane Cotter says police were called about 10.30am on Monday by a woman who found the girl's body wrapped in a towel at the back of her house in Taita Drive.
Mr Cotter says the baby appears to be no more than 24 hours old, and police are concerned for the health and well-being of the mother.
A post-mortem will be carried out on Wednesday morning will help determine if the baby was alive at the time of her birth.
Officers are also conducting a scene examination.
