Police confirm Maketū operation linked to Rotorua death of Zain Matenga Taikato-Fox

Zain Matenga Taikato-Fox, 20, died from critical injuries at Rotorua Hospital on Saturday night.

An ongoing police operation in Maketū is linked to an investigation into the death of Zain Matenga Taikato-Fox, police have confirmed.

The 20-year-old died in Rotorua Hospital on Saturday after being dropped off by four men.

Police said the men reported picking him up after finding him critically injured on a roadside.

Police sought witnesses to a vehicle incident on State Highway 33, between Paengaroa and Rotorua.

No charges have been laid in relation to the death of Taikato-Fox, who was pictured in tributes with Mongrel Mob facial tattoos and clothing.

Police will have a presence at his tangi, to be held at Pikirangi Marae in Rotorua on Friday.

Police began the operation in Maketū on Wednesday, with one local describing it as “huge”.

Armed police descended on the coastal Bay of Plenty community mid-morning.

Residents reported that police arrived by land and water and closed Maketū Rd, leaving people stuck in their cars at cordons guarded by police carrying rifles.

Maketū School went into a precautionary partial lockdown for an hour from 10.20am because of an “undisclosed police matter”.

A police cordon on Maketū Rd on Wednesday. Photo / Tom Eley

Police said yesterday that Maketū Rd was closed for a pre-planned search and there would be an increased police presence in the area but there was “no concern to public safety”.

Police reiterated those assurances in statements this afternoon, saying the search was in relation to an “ongoing investigation”.

“At this stage of our inquiries we are limited as to what further information we can provide.”

A scene guard was in place at “an address on Maketū Rd” while a scene examination was happening. Cordons had been removed overnight.

Police maintain a presence outside an address on Maketū Rd. Photo / Tom Eley

“An increased police presence remains in the area.”

Police confirmed to NZME this evening the operation was linked to the Taikato-Fox investigation.

Today, police vehicles, including a truck, were parked outside a Maketū Rd property.

Police were seen pulling over vehicles in the area.