Part of downtown Whangārei is closed to the public after a person was found dead on a footpath in the city centre.

Police were called about 5.40am after the person’s body was discovered on lower Bank St, less than 100m from the Vine St intersection.

Northland Area Investigations manager Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said the death is currently unexplained.

A cordon is in place blocking off Bank St between Vine and Walton Sts. People are asked to avoid the area.

Pilmer said inquiries were under way to establish the circumstances around the death.

“Additional information will be provided when we are in a position to do so.”

Whangārei District Council confirmed there is a police cordon in place closing Bank St from the Vine St intersection to the five-finger roundabout, which includes the Rose St bus terminal.

All buses will be coming and going from Vine St while the cordon is in place, with police able to direct people unsure where to catch their bus.

It is not yet known how long the cordon will be in place, but the Taimahi Trust fresh store is having to close all day because of the police activity.

The Rose St bus terminal is closed. Photo / Denise Piper

Other businesses closer to the city centre opened business as usual.

While Bernina Northland Sewing Centre co-owner and director Tim Robinson did not know the exact details of the morning’s incident, he was aware a person has died.

“Obviously it’s a tragedy, and you never want to see this kind of thing happen in the central city.”

Robinson praised the police response, especially for the way officers were helping people access Vine St.

He said the death had followed what had been a reasonable period of calm in the central city.

Little Foodie, opposite the Rose St bus terminal, was able to open as the cordon stops at the footpath.

Owner Cameron Thompson noticed sirens and lights about 6am but presumed someone had been pulled over.

The death was sad, he said.

Little Foodie on Bank St is just outside the cordon closing access to the Rose St bus terminal, which is opposite. Photo / Brodie Stone

He described how Rose St was known as a “dodgy” part town but said he had always felt safe.

An officer earlier told Thompson police were looking to remove the cordon but no timeframe was given.

Next door at Biggie Bagels, a staff member said the cordon went up about 5.30am.

The shop would usually be busy about now but was instead quiet.

Honey’s Coffee Shop staff described the death as “very sad” but didn’t know any further details.

They arrived at the cafe on Vine St about 6.15am and saw a police car near the intersection of Bank, Water and Vine Sts. By 7am they had noticed more police.

The cafe staff hoped a blessing at the scene would be done in due course.