Christchurch Police are waiting on results from a pathologist to tell them more about a foot found at Sumner Beach.
An off-duty policeman stumbled across the foot on Sunday. The officer's dog discovered it clad in a sock along the high tide mark.
Specialist searchers were called in to look for any other remains but did not find any.
Early indications are that the foot was in the water for several weeks.
The gruesome discovery has sparked a search for its owner.
Constable Steve Johnstone says there are a number of possibilities including that of Graham White who was last seen in August after a swim in Lyttelton Harbour.
He says they will be sent the pathology results on Monday afternoon, which will reveal more about its size, features and whether it belongs to a man or woman.
