Last week police divers searching through part of Tauranga Harbour after the skull was found, found more bones.
The bones were examined and determined to be animal bones, a police spokeswoman said.
A pathologist has identified the human skull found near Salisbury Wharf in Mount Maunganui as a pre-European adult Māori man.
Detective Sergeant Alan Kingsbury said the skull was found by a fisherman on August 6 and it would now be returned to Tauranga.
Local iwi would be consulted to organise a final resting place.
Police thanked members of the public who provided information relating to the skull.
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