Specialist police teams were at the scene.
Police leave the scene at Te Atatū Peninsula after a body was found floating in the water.
A police boat could be seen moving under the Northwestern Motorway bridge around midday, to focus on a point in the middle of the Whau river.
Five detectives were seen on an inflatable vessel next to the police boat.
Both boats turned in small circles at a very slow pace, with police officers leaning over the sides scouring the water. Although windy on shore, the water today is flat and calm.
Police in the Whau River near the Te Atatū Peninsula, Auckland, where a body was found floating in water.
The five detectives in the inflatable eventually moved to surround an object in the water, standing in the water at about knee height.
They returned to the larger vessel and returned to shore around 12.25pm.
A police tent has been erected at the Te Atatu Boating Club, with a large group of people, many supporting each other, making their way towards the shore.
A short ceremony was held with those gathered bowing their heads.
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