Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Patterson said the car will undergo an forensic examination today and two young people are now helping police with inquiries in relation to the car.
He said a forensic post mortem has indicated Ocean sustained injuries consistent with being hit by a motor vehicle. Her body will be returned to her family later today.
"We would like to hear from anyone who has information about this incident or who may have witnessed any collisions on Main North Road [SH 3] between 3am and 7am Sunday morning."
One of the last things Ocean Heke did before she died was hug and kiss the mother of one of her oldest friends.
The 17-year-old girl, who was also known as Lovey, spent Saturday night celebrating her close friend Filma's 18th birthday - a night that will now hold bittersweet memories for those close to her.
Early yesterday, Ocean was found dead on the side of State Highway 3 at Otorohanga. Police are investigating what happened, including whether a car was involved.
Her family last night told the New Zealand Herald she was "a beautiful soul".
Filma's mother, Emmy Tapara - who is good friends with Ocean's mother, Bella Heke - said she was grateful to have shared a special last few moments with Ocean when she arrived at the party on Saturday.
"I gave her a kiss and a hug. She said, 'Hello, my aunty, I missed you', and gave me a big kiss ... It is special. I didn't realise it was going to be the last kiss."
Ms Tapara said Ocean had a nice evening at the party, spending time with her friends and cousins.
Ocean's father, Clarry, was also at the party, and spent most of the night there "waiting for her".
"She was all good. She's a quiet girl, always smiling. She wasn't drinking, or falling around like that. She was just her usual self."
And that's how Ms Tapara will now always remember the teen.
"She was a quiet girl but always had a big smile."
Ms Tapara said Ocean was one of eight children.
"[They were a] very tight-knit family. They were mummy's kids."
"Our daughter broke down when she found out. Her friend had texted her this morning that somebody had died and she didn't want to believe it was her."
A passerby found Ocean lying on the grass outside the Tapara home on State Highway 3, just north of the King Country township. It was 6.30am and she was dead.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Patterson said debris indicated that a vehicle was involved, and Ocean had "collided" with it.
Last night, police were still trying to identify the vehicle. Resident Lauren Zanders said she had heard a car whizzing past her property early in the morning.
"I got woken up some time in the wee hours of the morning by a car doing a burn-out down the road. The only thing I heard apart from that was a crowd of people saying 'chug, chug' at a party down the road.
"I'm just so sad that someone's baby was taken away. It is just heartbreaking."
Mr Patterson said a post-mortem examination would take place in Auckland today.
Police officers spent part of the day knocking on doors within a cordon covering a large section of SH3, which runs through the centre of Otorohanga. A blue tent had been erected inside the cordon and yellow numbered markers dotted the road.
Mr Patterson said the police wanted to hear from anyone with information.
"We expect that as our investigation progresses, we will find out more about how she came to be there and the circumstances of her death. This is a tragedy and our thoughts are with her family at this time."
Otorohanga District Mayor Max Baxter called for the community to stick together and support one another.
"This is a very close community and we've got a wonderful group of young people in this town."
