Police are continuing to search for the mother of a baby found dead in an Auckland park.
The body was found about 8.30am today in a reserve on Mona Avenue, in Mangere Bridge, and has since been removed in a hearse.
A cordon remains in place as police and a forensic team conduct a scene examination.
Police said they had serious concerns for the wellbeing of the baby's mother.
"Our initial focus will be on identifying who she is."
Detective Senior Sergeant Karen Bright said she couldn't say what state the baby was in when it was found, but it appeared to be a recent birth.
Police had no idea who the mother was but they were concerned for her, and it was a priority to find her and offer her support, she said.
They had been making enquiries in the area and a post-mortem would be carried out tomorrow.
Police conduct the investigation at the Mangere Bridge reserve in Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Shannon Haunui-Thompson
Anyone with any information should call them immediately.
"They can be assured that anyone who wishes to speak with us can do so in confidence and we would reiterate that our main concern as this stage is the welfare of the mother."
Mona Ave resident Nathan Dalhousie said there were ambulances and police cars by the reserve early this morning.
The news was a shock and made him very sad, he said.
"In this time and date, people are insecure, people have got to to sleep in their cars, people have got to provide. Sometimes these people struggle to look after themselves."
Another local resident, Melanie Keenan, said she became aware something was going on shortly after 8am.
"It wasn't until I was just about to take my kids to school that I came out and saw ambulances and police and fire. That's when I thought something had happened over there. There's always people parked up over there."
The area at the park on Mona Ave in Mangere Bridge where the baby's body was found. Photo: RNZ / Tom Furley
Police search the park where the baby's body was found. Photo: RNZ / Shannon Haunui-Thompson
Photo: Google Maps
