Police investigating paedophilia claims made against a former Tauranga Maori leader say one person has come forward, but officers "are not able to progress the investigation any further".

Since July, Bay of Plenty Police have been working to investigate allegations made by Anihera Black regarding her late husband, Te Awanui Black.

Police have been contacted by one person since the allegations were made, says Detective Inspector Mark Loper.

'Our priority throughout our investigation has been to ensure that anyone who wishes to speak with us can feel comfortable doing so.

'For that reason, and out of respect for the privacy of the person who contacted us, we will not be discussing matters relating to this individual.

'We can advise that, to date, we have not received any information or evidence to substantiate the allegation that a ‘pedophile ring' is or has been operating in Tauranga,” says Mark.

'We understand that these allegations have caused considerable distress, not just for Mrs Black and her whanau, but for the wider Tauranga community.

'We want to assure the community that Police have taken these allegations seriously and have investigated accordingly.”

Based on the information currently available, police are unable to progress this matter any further at this time, says Mark.

'We continue to welcome contact from anyone who wishes to share information with us about the allegations but has not yet been in touch with us.”

Anyone who wishes to contact Police can do this by contacting their local Police station or by emailing the Adult Sexual Assault team at ASA@police.govt.nz.

Any information provided to police will be carefully assessed by specialist staff, who can also ensure the right support services are available.

Anyone who is not comfortable approaching police is encouraged to get in contact with their local Sexual Assault Support service.