Woman's death a mystery (+ video)

A police officer keeps guard at  a property in Strathallan St, Dunedin, after a body was...
A police officer keeps guard at a property in Strathallan St, Dunedin, after a body was discovered early yesterday. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN
Mystery surrounds the discovery of a woman's body in South Dunedin.

A member of the public reported the discovery about 2am yesterday in an industrial lot in Strathallan St.

An investigation into the death of the 51-year-old cleaning company employee has been launched.

Police are awaiting postmortem results before commenting further on how she died.

It is understood the body was discovered in the car park of Spotless cleaning services.

An Australia-based Spotless spokeswoman confirmed the woman was an employee of the company.

She would not comment on how the woman was discovered and said the company was assisting police with their investigation.

Staff were given the day off and the company's New Zealand general manager flew from Wellington to Dunedin following news of the death.

''It's a very sad time for us,'' the spokeswoman said.

''Our priority is with the deceased staff member's family and providing support to them.''

Tarpaulins were put in place by police and the Fire Service from 4am yesterday.

The area was cordoned off and detectives and uniformed officers were working inside the cordon from about 10am.

Police said in a statement the woman's family had been advised and were being offered support.

The death remained unexplained and it is understood police were yet to establish whether it was suspicious or how the woman came to be in the car park.

''Until a postmortem is completed, police will be treating the death as unexplained,'' the statement said.

''The postmortem is expected to occur tomorrow morning.

''Police will be unable to comment further on this case until the postmortem is completed.''

Police declined to release the woman's name while the death remained unexplained.

ESR and police staff remained at the site yesterday afternoon and a scene examination was ongoing.

St John confirmed an ambulance was sent to the scene about 2am yesterday.

''The person was sadly deceased at the scene,'' a St John spokesman said.

The incident was reported by a member of the public.

Several private vehicles were visible within the cordon.

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