Homicide inquiry after body found on beach

Dunedin police have launched a homicide investigation after the body of a young man was found today in the Blueskin Bay Estuary, behind Warrington Beach.

The body was discovered by two members of the public shortly before 8am.

"The scene has been secured by police and a forensic examination of the area is underway," Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis said.

The body was removed from the scene this afternoon and will be the subject of a post mortem examination this evening.

Det Snr Sgr Kroudis said the man's identity had yet to be established, but police were following a positive line of inquiry. 

"At this early stage police are unable to give details of the injuries sustained by the deceased. It is also too early to draw any conclusions about where the young man may have died," he said.

Police were keeping an open mind about whether the death occurred where the body was found or at another location.

Thirty police were working on the invesigation, and that number would increase to 40 during the weekend, with the arrival  of ESR scientists and specialist search staff.