Police are investigating the death of a newborn baby in Christchurch.

The baby was located at a residential address in Spreydon at about 8pm last night.

A police tent has been erected in the backyard of a house in the suburb.

A police spokeswoman told Chris Lynch that a post mortem and scene examinations will be carried out today.

A neighbour told Chris Lynch “something happened last night, as there were a few police cars there.”

She said the police tent was put out last night, and a police officer was guarding the property from the garage.

The police spokeswoman said police are in the early stages of their inquiries.