A bone has been found in the water at Mount Maunganui, days after a human skull was reportedly "fished up" nearby.

Police say someone has "found a bone in the water that they believe may possibly be human".

However, there is no indication yet whether the bone is human or not.

"There's bones found all the time that people think are human," say police.

The bone was found on the "surf club side" of Mount Maunganui - the eastern side - while what was reported to be a skull was found near the Salisbury Wharf side, in Tauranga Harbour.

The two locations are separated by the peninsula on which Mount Maunganui is located.

On Monday, police confirmed a fisherman hauled in an item which he believed could be human remains.

At the time she said police were examining the item and making inquiries.

-Stuff.co.nz