UPDATED 11.41am A fight took place shortly before a homeless man was found dead outside a block of shops in downtown Auckland, but police don't know whether it is linked to his death.

A number of rough sleepers told the Herald this morning the man was "one of them" and had been smoking outside the block of shops before he suddenly fell backwards.

It is thought he hit his head awkwardly before being found later.

Officers and security guards have been at the scene since about 1am. 

A large cordon has been erected outside a set of shops on Queen St.

Security staff are manning the area where a man's body was found - immediately outside the EB Games store.

Police tape is blocking a block of shops next to the McDonald's restaurant.

Two tents have also been put up.

A guard said they had been at the site for several hours. Police officers had been tending to the scene for some time before leaving shortly before 7am, he said.

Police said the death was being treated as suspicious.

"Police are still speaking to witnesses to establish what has happened," said a spokeswoman.

They were also awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination to determine what caused his death.