A human skull found in Mount Maunganui last week has been identified as a pre-European adult Māori man.
The skull was found by a fisherman near Salisbury Wharf last Monday, and will now be returned to Tauranga.
Local iwi will be consulted to organise a final resting place.
Detective Sergeant Alan Kingsbury said the skull has been in the water for a number of years.
He said there was nothing to suggest there were any suspicious circumstances in relation to the skull and the matter was referred to the coroner.
