KEY POINTS:
Police believe they have found the knife that fatally wounded Austin Hemmings.
The 44-year-old Devonport man, whose funeral is today, was stabbed as he went to the aid of a woman in Central Auckland last Thursday.
Officers investigating the case have revealed they found two knives near where Mr Hemmings died in Mills Lane.
Standing outside a mobile police station parked less than 2m from the spot where Mr Hemmings collapsed and died, Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley said yesterday that he was confident one of the knives was the murder weapon.
Both knives had been sent away for forensic analysis but it was for a court to decide if one had been used to kill Mr Hemmings.
Mr Whitley would not elaborate on where the knives were found, saying only that they were found in an area "associated with the scene".
The investigation team was conducting area inquiries from the mobile station in the hope of finding new witnesses.
They will be back at the scene today and tomorrow.
A 45-year-old sickness beneficiary, whose name is suppressed, has been charged in relation to the case.
Police say they expect to lay more serious charges against the man when he next appears in court, but Mr Whitley said there was still a lot of information to be gathered from the public.
Some people might have information which they did not believe was important, but which could be vital to the police case and the area canvass could uncover that, he said.
"A lot of people find it difficult to come to the police so we're just making it that little bit easier."
Police were last night still seeking a taxi driver believed to have dropped off the main suspect at Mangere or Mangere Bridge about 5.30pm last Thursday.
The taxi driver was not in trouble, Mr Whitley said.
"They weren't to know, they were just doing their job," he said.
"They may not remember taking the fare."
Police are focused on finding witnesses who were in the Mills Lane area and noticed suspicious behaviour between 5pm and 5.30pm last Thursday.
The murder occurred at 5.15pm.
Mr Hemmings' funeral is being held at the Holy Trinity Church in Devonport at 1.30pm.
* Anyone with information who has not contacted police is asked to call (09) 302-6567.