An earlier Police operation has been completed on a walkway near Highbrook.

At around 11.30am, Police were advised of a sudden death near a walkway running adjacent to the Southern Motorway (SH1).

On attendance Police staff have located a man’s body off the walkway.

While carrying out their work at the scene, Police located a suspicious item near the man’s body.

This item resembled the appearance of an improvised explosive device (IED) or similar.

The area was immediately cordoned off, including the closure of SH1 between Princes Street and Highbrook Drive.

The Police Specialist Search Group and the NZDF EOD Team were deployed to the scene.

Specialists have carried out a thorough examination of the immediate area and have located two objects.

Both objects have been safely removed from the scene.

Initial enquiries indicate that these items are not IEDs, and further specialist enquiries will need to be carried out into these two objects.

The Southern Motorway (SH1) has since reopened to motorists.

Police will remain at the location around the walkway where the man’s body was located.

A detailed scene examination will be carried out this evening and this is expected to carry on into Wednesday.

Police can reassure the public that the situation is contained and there are no immediate concerns for the anyone’s safety.

Police will carry out enquiries into the man’s death on behalf of the Coroner.

This includes a post-mortem examination and formal identification, which will be completed in due course.

We sincerely thank motorists for their cooperation today and recognise the disruption that has been caused.

Public safety is paramount, and these decisions on cordons are always made with this front of mind.

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