A teenager whose body was found yesterday in the driveway in Murupara, about 65km south east of Rotorua, was involved in a confrontation, police say.
Police released the teenager's name yesterday. He was Kaine Ernest Lewis (17), of Kaingaroa.
Rotorua Acting Area Commander Greg Sparrow said a homicide inquiry had been launched after his body was found in the Tawa St driveway about 1.50am yesterday.
It was understood he had been involved in a confrontation with one or more of the residents at the address, police said.
A post mortem had been carried out in Auckland but the results were not known.
Police were carrying out a forensic examination of the area where the teenager's body was found, assisted by Environmental and Scientific Research scientists.
Witnesses were being spoken to and extra police had been deployed to the area.
"It is too early to confirm whether there is any gang connection to the incident. However, that is an avenue that is being considered," Mr Sparrow said.
"The death of a 17-year-old boy is a tragic loss of life and our priority is to remain focused on the job at hand and ensure the investigation is bought to a successful conclusion for the family, (and the) Murupara and Kaingaroa communities."
