Bodies of twin babies found in Matata backyard

Police are relying on medical experts to reveal more details about the bodies of premature twin babies found in the Bay of Plenty.

Police were called to an Eastern Bay of Plenty home on Friday afternoon after the bodies were found.

It is unknown at this stage whether the infants died after birth or were still-born. A still-born child means a dead foetus that either weighed 400 grams or more when it was delivered or is was delivered after the 20th week of pregnancy.

Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Standen said an investigation was underway.

"It is a sensitive situation which is understandably distressing for the family involved and support has been put in place for the family,'' Mr Standen said.

"An investigation is underway to establish the cause of death, which will include a post mortem and liaison with a number of medical experts. That process may take some time and until it is complete we do not feel it would be appropriate to comment further or to speculate on the outcome.''

EARLIER:

The bodies of two dead babies have been discovered in a backyard in Matata in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Police received a call after the bodies - of premature twins - were discovered, detective senior sergeant Greg Standen told the Whakatane Beacon.

Whakatane CIB dug in the backyard and did a scene examination of the rest of the property.

The genders and the ages of the babies were not yet known but an investigation into the deaths were underway, he said.