KEY POINTS:
Forensic evidence and a post mortem should help police learn more today about the death of a person discovered inside a burnt out car southeast of Auckland yesterday.
The body was found in the driver's seat of the white hatchback about 8am yesterday in Kawakawa Bay, near the northwest tip of the Firth of Thames, about 55km southeast of downtown Auckland.
The windows appeared to have exploded in the blaze and metal tyre rims were melted from the intense heat.
Detective Sergeant Veronica McPherson from Counties Manukau police said the gender and age of the deceased was not yet known, but the body was believed to be that of an adult.
She said police could not determine the make of the white hatchback, found just after 8am yesterday by a woman walking her dog, because it was so badly burnt.
She said a post mortem today should determine the cause of death. It was not clear if it was suspicious.
Forensic scientists were at the scene yesterday to help identify the car and discover what caused the fire, Ms McPherson said.
A neighbour on the remote stretch of coastal road heard an explosion about 2am but nobody reported the fire , which detectives believed was lit after 7pm on Saturday.
Locals had also noticed the car in the area in the previous few days, but in different locations from where it was found burnt out.
- NZPA
