Baby's body found at recycling centre

Police are "extremely concerned" for a mother's welfare after the body of a newborn baby was discovered at an Auckland recycling centre.

The baby is believed to have been a newborn, authorities said. A post mortem will be carried out tomorrow.

Police were first called to the Onehunga facility on Monday night. The investigation has continued through today, including efforts to identify the mother.

"We have already made inquiries with hospitals and will continue to work closely with them," Detective Inspector Scott Beard, of Auckland City Police, said today.

Beard said police were "extremely concerned" for the welfare of the mother, who may need urgent medical attention.

Police have begun examining CCTV footage from the site, but Beard warned there was a "significant amount of work to undertake".

"These types of investigations can be extremely complex. We have teams of specialist staff and this will be treated sensitively and with respect."

The private recycling facility in Onehunga is one of 120 owned by international company Visy throughout New Zealand, Thailand and Australia.

The company touts its Auckland facility as handling 30 percent of kerbside recycling in New Zealand.

Calls to Visy's Onehunga site went unanswered this afternoon.

Anyone who may have information about the incident is asked to contact police at 105, quoting file number 210816/2825, or to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111.