Remains dug up not human - police

File photo / Martin Sykes

The remains dug up in Kingston, south of Queenstown, today were not human and possibly those of a sheep, police have confirmed.

The remains were initially thought to be of a small child and were suspected to be those of Amber-Lee Cruickshank, a two-year-old who went missing 19 years ago.

The local harbour master reported the discovery of remains about 12.50pm today, police southern communications Senior Sergeant Murray Hurst said.

Police arrived at the scene shortly after 4pm.

An initial scene examination that took place this afternoon with police and a pathologist confirmed that the remains were not human. They are believed to possibly belong to a sheep, say police.

The unsolved case of Amber-Lee Cruickshank was the subject of a Sensing Murder television programme in 2007, which sparked renewed interest in the case.

- NZ Herald staff