Wellington police are treating the discovery of a body in a drain in a car park beside Te Papa as suspicious.

The body was found by members of the public about midday today at Chaffers Marina.

Detective Inspector Paul Basham said police were in the initial stages of scene examination.

Fairfax NZ INVESTIGATION: A body was found in the drain next to this red van, in a car park near Te Papa, Wellington.

"We're looking to recover the body, which appears to be lodged inside a stormwater culvert."



It was too early to speculate on the identity of the person or circumstances surrounding the death, however police were treating the incident as suspicious.

Jonathan Bui, who works at a fruit and vegetable stall at the Habourside Market near where the body was found, said three women had found the body.



"They were really calm, they just sat down and waited for police to arrive."



Only two police officers arrived initially, he said. "After that everybody showed up."



Police have a a large cordon around the site and have closed down the market.

Wellington City Council drainage staff have been called in to assit in the investigation.

About four fire engines, including a HAZMAT unit were also attending.



Harbourside market manager Fraser Ebbett said stallholders and market goers were shocked to hear of the body, found in a grated drain.



He was strolling through the market this morning when his young son started yelling "fire engine! fire engine!".



When they went to see what the emergency services were doing, Mr Ebbett could not believe that a body had been found metres from the bustling market.



"The area was totally cordoned off….it was on the end of one of our fruit and vege stalls, so the police were trying to see if anyone had seen anything. Everyone is absolutely shocked, and we are all just waiting to see what has happened. Just astonishment, and wondering how it got into the drain."



While it was unexpected, the murder of Radio New Zealand journalist Philip Cottrell on Boulcott St last month showed this type of thing did happen in Wellington, he said.



"We know these things have happened, it's's just a mystery."



Stallholders near the area had to move, and the market had closed down earlier than normal.



Were you at the market this morning? Do you have any information on this story? Contact news@dompost.co.nz

More soon.

