The shipwreck was discovered by a Muriwai resident.

A ship, believed to be the 153-year-old Daring shipwreck, has been discovered on a West Auckland beach.

The wreck was uncovered by shifting sands at Muriwai beach and spotted by a local resident on May 27.

However, scavengers have already taken parts of the "rare" find from the historic site.

Auckland Council Heritage Unit confirmed the wreck was identified to be the Daring – a schooner driven ashore in a severe gale in 1865.

READ MORE:

* The shipwrecked boat that was no match for Wellington's wind

* Oreti Beach discovery may be 150-year-old shipwreck

* A 2000km shipwreck

A team from New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), Auckland Council archeologists and Department of Conservation staff visited the site on May 29 to cordon off the area and begin investigations.

SUPPLIED A shipwreck discovered along the coast of the Kaipara range is investigated by archaeologist Greg Walter (left) and Auckland Council Cultural Heritage specialist Rob Brassey.

The wreck was partially buried on the beach and inside the NZDF Kaipara Air Weapons Range.

It was extremely rare for a wreck of this age to have survived in such a good condition, the heritage team said.

The 17 metre-long schooner was a two-masted ship carrying a cargo of grass seed when it was driven onto the beach near South Head on the Kaipara Harbour.

SUPPLIED The ship appeared to be a 156-year-old schooner.

It had been built just two years earlier in Mangawai and owned by an Onehunga man.

A historic news article from the National Library of New Zealand said the Daring was sailing from Taranaki to the Manukau when it found itself opposite the Kaipara heads.

Auckland Council Heritage Unit principal specialist Robert Brassey said the wreck was already being preyed upon by scavengers.

SUPPLIED Archaeologists from the New Zealand Heritage team were investigating the origin of the ship.

"Someone has been selfish enough to have damaged the ship within days of it being exposed by scavenging timber off it," Brassey said.

"Several deck planks and a section of railing have been removed from the wreck."

He said it was astounding that someone would damage a historical site.

NZDF was warning people to stay away from the wreck at all times or risk trespassing.

The wreck was on an archeological site protected under the provisions of the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act.

Public access to the range was banned at all times including when there was no military activity, council said.

"An archaeological authority from Heritage New Zealand is required before anyone can modify or damage this site," Beverley Parslow of Heritage New Zealand Auckland Area said.

"This wreck is part of the nation's history and needs to be recorded in the first instance without being tampered with.

"Its full story can then be told for all New Zealanders to appreciate and learn from.

"That story is not as complete with parts of the wreck missing due to fossickers taking items that do not belong to them."

Under the Act, any person damaging or destroying any part of the wreck or wreck site was liable to a fine of up to $60,000.