Human skull found at Omaui Beach in Southland, New Zealand

It was meant to be a quiet walk along the beach on Boxing Day. But that all changed when Alan Clark and his family stumbled across human remains.

Alan Clark, of Greenhills, points to the pile of rocks which now covers the spot where he came across a cranium. Picture: Jenet Gellatly

It was supposed to be a relaxing walk on Boxing Day with family who had flown to New Zealand to be together for Christmas.

But for Alan Clark, his daughters and spouses who were also visiting, that leisurely walk all changed when he stumbled across a human skull at Omaui Beach near Invercargill on New Zealand’s South Island.

A beachcomber for many years, Mr Clark had walked the stretch of rocky coastline many times, however on this occasion he had felt drawn to the spot where he discovered the remains.

According to the Otago Daily Times, where the skull was found wasn’t a spot he “would normally look at”.

“Normally I would walk straight past, but this time I went straight to it … I was drawn to it,” he said of the remains which were protruding from the eroded bank.

Along from Omaui Beach where the human skull was found protruding from the exposed earth bank. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Clark said that he was shocked by the discovery, but his daughters, Sally and Sara, were “quite excited about it”.

“Sally phoned the local police officer (Constable Peter Jenkins) in Bluff … He came with a plastic bag, presumably to take the skull away.

“The officer cordoned the site off for the night for other police to come down later.”

Detective Sergeant Chris Lucy told the Otago Daily Times the skull was of a pre-European, and nothing was considered suspicious. It is thought the site where the discovery was made appeared to be an ancient burial ground.

The skull has now been given to Te Rau Aroha Marae Te Runaka O Awarua Kaiwhakahaere, Dean Whaanga, in Bluff.