Northland man dies after being dropped off at hospital, police investigating

Officers were called to Kaitāia Hospital about 11.40pm after a seriously injured man was dropped off in a vehicle. The man died a short time later. Photo / Peter Jackson

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a man died shortly after being dropped off with serious injuries at a Northland hospital last night.

Officers were called to Kaitāia Hospital about 11.40pm after a seriously injured man was dropped off in a vehicle.

He died a short time later, Detective Inspector Rhys Johnson said.

Police are making enquiries to determine the circumstances around the man’s death and are examining a number of relevant scenes.

“The investigation is in its early stages and we are working to locate people who may be able to assist with our enquiries.”

Further information will be released when it becomes available.

The death comes just two days after one of Auckland’s top police officers revealed there had been four homicides in the city in the past fortnight.

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin hosted a press conference at the Auckland Central Police Station on College Hill today regarding the latest probe, this one into a shooting in Grey Lynn a night earlier.

A complete list of recent homicides in Auckland includes:

• Blockhouse Bay, on August 24. Stephen Thorpe was stabbed and killed on Rathlin St.
• Mt Wellington, on August 31. Finauga “Lee” Ah Yen Faatoia was fatally stabbed on Tomuri Place.
• Onehunga, on September 1. Anthony Rangi was shot dead on Selwyn St.
• Grey Lynn, on Thursday, September 5. Maxwel-Dee Repia was shot and killed on Tuarangi Rd.

Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson said the figures were concerning, “but I think we have to appreciate that police are dealing with the situation in all instances”.

Simpson said: “My wider message to Aucklanders is that police are telling us that this particular event [in Grey Lynn], as with others, [was] isolated between people [who already knew one another].

“It wasn’t as if you had a random gunman going around shooting people they [didn’t] know.”

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