Port Chalmers death 'not homicide' - police

Police say the death of a man whose body was found off a track near Port Chalmers is not homicide.

Police launched the homicide inquiry about 1pm yesterday after a member of the public found the man's body off a track at Scott Memorial, on Blueskin Rd.

Police believed no one else was involved in his death, Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis said.

Overnight inquiries about the man's identity as well as a scene examination today had convinced police to no longer treat the death as a homicide.

The man had still "died violently", but Mr Croudis would not reveal how.

"The police... until we know the facts, always treat them (as suspicious first)," he said.

"You have to treat these things with the utmost seriousness and care until you know that they have a different status."

Police said they had confidence they knew the identity of the deceased.

The name of the man was expected to be released later today.

The matter would be referred to Dunedin coroner, David Crerar, Mr Croudis said.

- with STUFF.CO.NZ

- NZPA