A homicide investigation is underway after a man’s body was found close to a house at the end of a driveway in Tauranga early this morning.
Police were called to Mansfield Street shortly after 9am after the discovery was made by the occupants of the house. The deceased is yet to be identified but police believe him to be a man in his late teens from the Western Bay of Plenty. A post mortem will be carried out tomorrow morning to establish cause of death.
The scene remains cordoned off to allow for a scene examination and a team of approximately 30 officers are currently working on the investigation.
Police have established that there was a party at a neighbouring address last night and it is believed the deceased had been at that party.
Police received no calls to the party address or reports of any trouble at that location. Officers, did however attend a report of a stabbing some distance away near the intersection of Welcome Bay Road and Ohauiti Road, opposite the Palmers Garden Centre at 12.30am.
Enquiries suggest that the deceased was not at this location or involved in this incident but police are looking at possible links between the two events. One man received hand and facial injuries during this second event; he was treated at hospital and discharged.
Police want to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious at either location; particularly any vehicles.
The focus over the next couple of days will be to speak to all partygoers, identify any other witnesses from the area and complete the scene examination.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300. Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
There will be no media interview opportunities today or early tomorrow morning.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.