Police have launched a homicide investigation after the discovery this morning of a man’s body in a park at Beach Road, Maketu.
The body of a local man in his 40s was discovered and reported to police at approximately 1.45am by two people who had heard that there had been an incident at the park.
Upon police arrival a vehicle containing a number of people was stopped in Beach Road and a 19-year-old local man from that vehicle is currently being interviewed by police.
A firearm has since been recovered from a local address. A scene and vehicle examination is underway with police and ESR along with an area canvass and other police enquiries. The death appears to be the result of a shooting but a post mortem will be carried out tomorrow to establish cause of death.
Enquiries suggest that the dead man and the man being questioned by police were known to one another and were at the same social gathering at a Maketu address earlier in the evening.
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.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.