By Dan Parker
Security camera footage from the national museum Te Papa may help solve the mystery of how a man's body ended up in a Wellington storm water drain.
Police are searching hours of footage and continuing their search of the area for clues.
The storm water network around Wellington's waterfront was the subject of an extensive search by police.
The body has since been removed from a culvert under a grate and police are relying on a post mortem to reveal the cause of death and the man's identity.
Security cameras mounted on Te Papa could hold the key to this enquiry and police have begun searching through hours of footage.
“We have a range cameras that stretch right across the footprint of Te Papa and also in our surrounding environments,” says Te Papa spokesman Filipo McGrath.
“So we are very confident that our camera footage can help support any police inquiries that take place - especially this one.”
A tent now protects the scene from strong winds and prying eyes.
Behind it, a red van is parked next to the storm water grate. A police photographer documented the area from a cherry picker.
What makes the case even more intriguing is Barnett Street is one of the most open and public parts of the city.
Hotel rooms look directly down on to it.
The body was found on Sunday in broad daylight but witnesses who were at a nearby skate park the night before say there was an altercation in the vicinity.
“Two fullas were having a fight and one fulla got knocked out and we went down there and came back and two girls were involved and trying to help their boyfriends,” says witness Chris Field.
So far police are yet to make any official comment and many questions remain unanswered.
The post mortem is expected to be completed tonight.
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