Police are appealing to members of the public for information
on a man who was killed in Auckland early this morning.
A homicide investigation was launched after a 27-year-old was
found dead on Pilkington Road in Panmure.
Detective Inspector Mark Benefield said a woman phoned the
police about 4am after finding the man on the street.
"We have spoken to a woman ... who initially saw the deceased
and went to his assistance, but he was deceased at the time."
Mr Benefield said police were asking any members of the
public who may have seen or heard anything to contact them.
The man is believed to have recently lived in Papatoetoe, but
police are yet to formally identify him and locate his next
of kin.
His body is still at the scene, and police have cordoned off
an area of Pilkington Road for their investigation.
Mr Benefield confirmed a weapon was used in the incident but
said police are yet to find it.
Several New Year's Eve parties took place on the street last
night, but it is unclear whether the 27-year-old had attended
one of them, he said.
"We're doing an area canvas [and] speaking to neighbours and
members of the public."
Pilkington street resident Daniel Taorei told APNZ he woke up
from shouting at around 4am.
"I looked out the window and saw a fella [sic] walk across
the road and just collapse."
The people who live in the house outside where the body was
found are currently away, Mr Taorei said.
"It's usually a quiet street. Nothing like this has really
happened here."
Mr Taorei has lived in Pilkington Road for three years, and
said he had not spoken to anyone who knew the the
27-year-old.
Police expect to remove the body from the scene this
afternoon.
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