Human bones washed up at Maketū, Bay of Plenty

The sea has washed up human remains - possibly pre-European -  at the beach in Maketū. 

A rāhui is now in place for Okurei Point until late February. 

It will remain in place for at least six weeks, after which it will be renewed, a prohibition notice said. 

It includes Okurei Point, Newdicks Beach and eight kilometres south. 

The area should be avoided by all during this time and no seafood should be collected from the spot. 

After a landslide unearthed the bones, they washed into the sea and have since washed up at Maketū, a post on a Tauranga Community Facebook page said on Saturday. 

"I picked up a thigh bone, two skulls and other bits of bones this morning," the post said. 

Police have been notified.

The remains are now with the Te Puke police, while local iwi decide what to do with them, a police spokeswoman said.