The police are investigating the death of a woman who died in the Christchurch suburb of Sumner this morning.
Emergency services were called to a property on Spinnaker Lane just before 1am.
The police said a woman in her early 20s was found dead.
Spinnaker Lane has been cordoned off by police, with cones placed in front of it.
The private street is on a hill and veers off Clifton Terrace.
Cars and local residents are having to move slowly past the cordon on Clifton Terrace, which is a narrow street.
Police officers are inside the cordon, conducting a scene examination, and a police photographer is taking pictures.
A dark blue Ford was towed away.
The police said they were treating the death as unexplained.