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Police are calling on the public to provide information about suspicious activity after a man turned up at an Auckland police station with a dead child in his car.

The 37-year-old man appeared before the Manukau District Court on Monday, charged with murdering a child and driving the body to the Manukau Police Station.

Acting Detective Inspector Veronica McPherson said police want to hear from anyone who witnessed suspicious activity around the Waiouru Rd area in Highbrook and East Tāmaki between 8.30pm Sunday and 1am Monday.

Police would also like to hear from anyone who observed a blue-coloured Nissan Bluebird in that area between those times.

Police canvas Auckland street

Police were yesterday canvassing an Auckland street and seeking security footage in relation to the incident.

Residents of the quiet South Auckland street told the Herald police had been knocking on their doors asking for home surveillance footage from late Sunday night.

Police say the accused was known to the child and their family. Details about the child, including age, gender, ethnicity and cause of death, were suppressed during Monday’s court appearance.

After the grisly discovery in the early hours of Monday morning, police cordoned off a Nissan sedan parked in Barrowcliffe Pl, directly outside the entrance to the Manukau Police Station.

Court documents state police are alleging he murdered the child on Sunday in East Tāmaki, an industrial area.

He was listed as living in another South Auckland suburb.

Police have told residents on a street linked to the accused they were investigating a “serious incident” but would not reveal any more details.

After the grisly discovery early Monday, police cordoned off a Nissan sedan parked in Barrowcliffe Pl, directly outside the entrance to the Manukau Police Station. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Residents near a property linked to the accused said they had never heard any incidents of concern at the property, nor had they seen police officers on the street before.

Some residents said they had seen a mother, father and child at the address. They had also seen an older woman, who one neighbour understood to be the grandmother and mother-in-law.

Tearful family members of the defendant were in the public gallery when the accused appeared in court. The man, appearing distraught, gestured to his family during the hearing.

Judge Tahana remanded the man in custody without plea until his next appearance, scheduled for February 5 in the High Court at Auckland. Suppression of his name and that of the child will continue until then at least.

- NZ Herald