An investigation has been opened after a body was found at an Auckland beach this morning.

A local has reported seeing police blocking an area of a St Heliers beach and seeing a body lying face down in the sand.

A police spokesperson said they were called by a member of the public at 7.13am.

“An investigation into the circumstances of the death is underway and at this stage, it is being treated as unexplained”.

A local told Stuff they were running on Ladies Bay at 8.45am when they noticed four to five officers near the stairwell.

He said he believed it was a “young man” based on his clothing.