Police have confirmed the human remains discovered in suitcases as part of an Auckland homicide investigation are those of primary school-age children.
Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Vaaelua confirmed on Thursday their bodies are believed to have been in the suitcases for a number of years.
Det Insp Vaaelua said police are unable to confirm how old the children actually were.
Earlier this month human remains were discovered at an address in the south Auckland suburb of Manurewa.
Newshub revealed on Monday the remains were unknowingly taken by a family to their Manurewa home who'd bid and won an auction for abandoned goods in a storage unit.
The goods were then transported to the family's home on Moncrieff Avenue in Clendon Park. Human remains were later discovered in what Newshub understands were suitcases.
During the press conference, Det Insp Vaaelua told the media he was able to confirm the human remains belonged to two young children.
"From the post-mortem exam it would appear they were of primary school age," Vaaleua said.
Det Insp Vaaleua said police are looking into how old the children exactly are.
"The bodies were concealed in two suitcases of a similar size."
Det Insp Vaaelua also told media police believe the children had been deceased for a number of years before being found last week.
"Formal identification procedures are still ongoing, which means Police are not yet able to comment on the identities of the children," Det Insp Vaaleua said in a statement.
Once police are able to identify the bodies the children's next of kin will be contacted.
Det Insp Vaaleua said police wanted to reiterate those living at the Moncrieff Avenue property are not connected to the deaths and have asked for privacy during this difficult time.
"Police will continue to provide further updates as our investigation allows, but as the community will appreciate, police aren’t able to comment on many specifics of the active homicide investigation.
"Anyone with concerns they would like to raise are asked to contact police," Det Insp Vaaleua said in a statement.
