'Historic' bomb identified as training round

Port Chalmers. Photo / Supplied

An "historic" bomb found by two fishermen near Dunedin has been identified as a training round.

The object was pulled from the water yesterday afternoon when it got stuck in the men's net. The half-a-metre long device with fins at one end was taken to Carey's Bay, a suburb of Port Chalmers, near Dunedin.

Police were notified about 10am, and an army bomb disposal unit headed down from Christchurch to examine the object.

Senior Sergeant Brian Benn told NZPA the device was rendered safe and was identified as a training bomb, which would not explode like a traditional bomb.

The bomb disposal unit had taken the device back to Christchurch, he said.

The fisherman's wharf in Carey's Bay had reopened.

- NZPA