Male corpse in burnt out car 'suspicious': Police

Police are treating as suspicious the death of a man whose charred corpse was pulled from a burned-out vehicle near Motueka, northwest of Nelson.

Police wouldn't know what cause the death until after a post mortem had been carried out, so could not yet rule out foul play, Police Senior Sergeant Grant Andrews said.

The body was found in the car, a four-door sedan, possibly a Hyundai Lantra, at Baigent's Reserve on the tip of Kina Peninsula, 13km southeast of Motueka, by a local dogwalker early today.

Forensic and ESR scientists had been at the scene and would continue tomorrow, with the motor vehicle now the focus of the inquiry, Mr Andrews said.

Police were speaking to local residents but anyone who saw a fire or a four-door sedan in the area overnight should contact police immediately.

- NZPA