Man arrested after carpark death

Police hope an autopsy today will help identify a man found dead in a South Auckland carpark.

A homicide investigation was launched after the man was discovered by security guards in the carpark of the Otara Shopping Centre on Kew Lane, about 4am yesterday.

St John paramedics could not revive the man, who is believed to have been in a fight in the carpark shortly before he died.

A 33-year-old man will today appear in the Manukau District Court charged with assault, and police say further charges are likely.

The carpark is close to a nightclub, but it is not known if the dead man had been in the club.

Detective Senior Sergeant Pete Jones, of Otara CIB, said two men had been taken for questioning and last night one had been arrested.

Mr Jones said police did not believe the victim started the fight and there were a number of possible circumstances that could have led to his death, including his falling and hitting his head.

A number of witnesses had been spoken to but several more had yet to come forward, he said.

The man - who had not been identified last night - is described as Polynesian, in his late 20s or early 30s, of medium-to-solid build and unshaven. He was wearing blue track pants.

Mr Jones appealed to anyone with information to come forward.

The man did not have a wallet, and it is understood he was unknown to the men with whom he was fighting.

Police have not revealed the man's injuries and are waiting until the autopsy is completed to confirm how he died.

Closed-circuit television footage from the area is being checked by investigators.

A weapon is not believed to have been used in the fight, but police searched the area for most of yesterday - including in rubbish skips.

The carpark was cordoned off, and the victim's body lay there for about nine hours.

The area is well known to police as a place for fights and disturbances, and several residents and shopkeepers have said they often fear for their safety. In 2007, Su'a William Sio, now the MP for Mangere, urged the Otara Community Board to work with police and council liquor licensing officers to compel the area's two nightclubs to take responsibility for drunk and violent behaviour around their premises.

"There is a national alcohol crisis in New Zealand and our aim is to look at ways of curbing binge drinking," he said.

"This is the end result of too much alcohol being available to young people."

Anyone who knows the identity of the man is urged to call the Otara CIB on (09) 261-1300.