Police investigate sighting of 'body'

LATEST: Police are still searching the water off the coast of Dunedin this afternoon after a possible sighting of a body.

A police helicopter crew saw what appeared to be a body in the water off Lawyers Head early today, Sergeant Kevin Davidson said.

The search was launched after police became concerned for a person living in the area, he said.

There had been no sightings of the body since it was seen from the helicopter before dawn.

"We've maintained a shoreline search and a visual (search) from the top of the cliff but nothing's turned up," Mr Davidson said.

"There's two options, either the body's been pushed closer to the cliff or it's been taken out to sea."

Mr Davidson said inflatable rescue boats would search the water during low tide about 2pm.

- NZPA