Police believe they have found the remains of missing Auckland woman Carmen Thomas.
The 32-year-old mother was last seen alive on 27 June and police believe her body was dismembered and disposed of.
Police called a news conference on Friday night and said the items have been excavated at a site in the Waitakere Ranges, west of Auckland.
The items will be transferred to a morgue where they will undergo a forensic post-mortem on Saturday.
The head of the inquiry, Detective Inspector Mark Benefield, struggled to compose himself at the news conference, saying it is a very sad time for family and those who hoped to find Ms Thomas alive.
Police say though they have not yet been able to formally identify her, they are confident they have found where she was buried and can begin the process of returning her to her family and loved ones.
Mr Benefield says work at the site will continue on Saturday. Police cannot rule out the possibility of further arrests, but none are imminent, he says.
Ms Thomas's former partner, Bradford Callaghan, was charged with her murder last week.
