Police investigate possible homicide

Police at the scene of a homicide investigation. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a 28-year-old man died in hospital following an incident at an Invercargill property.

It is understood the man was pushed through a glass door by a 17-year-old man and died from excessive bleeding.

Police could not comment on that but confirmed in a statement they had been called to an altercation at a Dee St address about 7.15pm on Saturday.

Detective Sergeant Stu Harvey, of Invercargill, said about 20 police staff were working on the investigation.

"We've gathered preliminary witness statements - we don't know what's correct and what's not with the people we've spoken to," he said.

"We don't really want to say anything at the moment."

A forensics team was at the house yesterday and police were hoping to complete a post-mortem examination by today, Mr Harvey said.

No charges had yet been laid in relation to the incident, he said.

A St John spokesman confirmed the 28-year-old was taken by ambulance to Southland Hospital where he later died from his injuries.

The spokesman could not confirm the nature of the injuries.

The 12-room property where the incident occurred is understood to be a boarding house and is on the market through real estate company The Professionals NZ.

A company spokesman said it did not want to comment on the incident or the details of the property.

A neighbour said she was not home at the time of the incident but people often came and went from the property.