Police in Auckland say they have not yet been able to identify the body pulled from Gulf Harbour.

A homicide investigation was launched after a fisherman found the body wrapped in plastic bags on Tuesday by the Gulf Harbour ferry terminal.

A post mortem was conducted on Wednesday, but police say they haven't been able to identify the woman.

Interpol had been contacted in the hope of identifying the woman, Acting Detective Inspector Tim Williams said.

"It is complex because we don't know who she is. Someone must be missing their mother, sister or grandma," Inspector Williams says.

Police are also asking the public to help identify items of clothing found on the woman's body

Police say they are treating the crime very seriously, and acknowledge how unsettling it is to the community.

They say they don't believe there is an ongoing risk to the public, but declined to say how the woman had died.

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This story was originally published by RNZ