Shoppers had to queue for hours to leave a car park after a sudden death left them boxed in.

Emergency services were called to the West Auckland shopping centre LynnMall, in New Lynn, at 2.05pm on Saturday.

"Police are at the scene of an unexplained sudden death," a police spokeswoman said.

A Stuff reporter at the scene said a body could be seen on the ground in the entrance to the car park, covered in a sheet.

Two hours later, emergency services had moved the car, so vehicles queueing inside the car park could get out.

A queue of more than 50 cars was making its way out of the car park building about 4pm.

Nine police cars could be seen in the area.

The police spokeswoman later said police were not treating the death as suspicious.

LynnMall owner Kiwi Property offered condolences to the person's family.

"We can confirm a person died at LynnMall earlier this afternoon and our deepest condolences go out to their family," a spokesman said.

A St John Ambulance media alert said two vehicles attended but no patients were treated and no transport was required.

All further queries were directed to police.