Police say beach car death was natural

Police said a post-mortem found the man died of natural cause. Photo / File

The discovery of a man's body in a car on a Far North beach is no longer being treated as a homicide after a post mortem found he died of natural causes.

Police launched a homicide investigation after the body of Kevin George Harding was found about 10.30pm on Tuesday on Tokerau Beach, near Whatuwhiwhi on the Karikari Peninsula. They had been speaking to a 61-year-old woman in relation to his death.

However, a post-mortem examination, completed yesterday, showed Mr Harding had died of natural causes.

Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston said an incident that evening had preceded Mr Harding's death, but police were now confident there was no criminal liability.

In relation to a serious assault, a Kaikohe man who suffered a life-threatening brain injury last week is showing "encouraging signs" of improvement, police say.

The 58-year-old underwent two emergency operations, one of which involved removing part of his skull to reduce pressure on his brain.

Meanwhile, a 51-year-old man appeared in Whangarei District Court charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, one of trespass, and another of wilful damage. He was remanded in custody.