An autopsy is being carried out on a body found in a burnt out car in Kinleith forest, near Taupo.

The body was discovered yesterday after the Fire Service was called to reports of smoke in a forest.

The car was fully ablaze when the Fire Service arrived and a communications spokesman at the time said "there was nothing we could do".

Police finished the scene examination and removed the body last night.

Detective Senior Sergeant Graham Perks said there was nothing to suggest the death was suspicious.

"However enquiries are ongoing and the post mortem examination needs to be completed to provide us with information about the cause of death.

"It may be some time before full results of that process are known," he said.

Police said they believed they knew the identity of the person, but would not comment further until that had been confirmed and the family had been notified.

- © Fairfax NZ News