Body in harbour up to five days - police

A woman's body pulled from the Waitemata Harbour in Auckland on Sunday had been in the water for between two and five days, making identification difficult, police said.

North Shore Detective Senior Sergeant Kim Libby told NZPA police were fairly confident they knew who the woman was, but an examination of dental records had failed to formally confirm her identity.

The body was spotted by a man paddling his board in Chelsea Bay, between Birkenhead Wharf and the Chelsea sugar refinery. Access to the area is through private property only.

Post mortem results released yesterday showed the woman had no signs of external physical injuries.

Police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman's death and at this stage did not believe she was murdered, Mr Libby said.

Police would use forensic methods, such as DNA testing, to find out the woman's identity, he said.

- NZPA