Wellington police confirm Simon Bird’s death being treated as a homicide

• Simon Bird was found dead outside his home in the Wellington suburb of Northland on Tuesday.
• Police have today confirmed his death is being treated as a homicide.
• Police postponed a media stand-up outside Bird’s house yesterday as the post-mortem hadn’t been completed, rescheduling it for today.

Police have confirmed they are treating the death of a man whose body was found outside his home in Wellington as a homicide.

Simon Bird, 65, was found dead on Albemarle Rd in the suburb of Northland on Tuesday.

Speaking to media this afternoon, Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard said Bird was last seen alive on March 27 about 5pm, when he finished work in central Wellington.

“Mr Bird had not been heard from for several days, prompting a concerned friend to carry out a welfare check.

“We want to hear from anyone who has interacted with him over the past few weeks to piece together what happened to him and who he was with over that time,” said Pritchard.

“We are continuing to piece together his movements and the events that led to his death.”

Bird’s silver Honda Odyssey had been recovered from his address and would be forensically examined.

He couldn’t comment on if there was any indication Bird had been injured inside his vehicle before he died.

Pritchard said Bird was found on his property but wouldn’t detail where.

He said police were still trying to establish how long Bird had been dead before he was found.

Bird's car was removed from the scene around 3pm Wednesday. Photo / Katrina Bennett

Pritchard said police would have an ongoing presence in the Northland community over the coming days.

 Police were “keeping an open mind” over persons of interest in the homicide investigation.

“From what we’ve established so far, he was a fairly private person and we don’t know a lot about Mr Bird.”

That was the reason they hoped people would come forward with more information to help provide a fuller picture.

Pritchard said police were going door to door in the area and carrying out reassurance patrols.

“Police have been engaging with [Bird’s] family and our thoughts and condolences go out to them for their loss.”

Police outside the property where Simon Bird's body was found on Albemarle Rd, Northland. Photo / Mark Mitchell.

Shocked loved ones paid tribute to Bird on social media this week after his sudden death was revealed by a family member.

They described him as “fiercely loyal”, a “true gentleman” and a person with a “wonderful heart”.

“It is with heavy hearts and sadness that our family announce the sudden passing of Simon Bird. A fiercely loyal, kind, and funny person, he will be missed beyond what words can explain,” wrote niece Christina Bird.

“There are still many questions surrounding his death, that we the family, still do not have answers to. We therefore request time and patience, as we come to terms with this loss, and please know that we will update when we can.”

Police have been at the scene, with forensic investigators spotted combing the property for evidence.

Police have been investigating the scene since the discovery on Tuesday. Photo / Mark Mitchell.

A car was towed from the scene on Wednesday.

Detective Inspector Nick Pritchard earlier said the death was being treated as unexplained, and locals could expect to see a police presence in the area.

Bird, who listed himself online as working at the Co-operative Bank NZ, was also the vice-president of the Wairarapa Racing Club.

The club’s general manager, Matthew Sherry, described Bird as a stalwart of the club, noting he’d been working there for about 15 years.

“He was an incredible guy, just a lovely, lovely man. Always had a smile on his face,” he told the Herald.

“The work he did was phenomenal. He will be hugely missed.”

Sherry described Bird as his “right hand man”, who was always the first to put his hand up if something needed doing.

He previously lived in Wairarapa but had since moved to Wellington, but Wairarapa was still his second home and he was “very well known” in the area.

“People just love Simon . . . we’ve had so much fun over the years.”

Sherry was tearful as he said Bird would leave a “big hole to fill” in the Wairarapa racing community.

Simon Bird was found dead outside a property in Northland, Wellington on Tuesday.

Third unexplained death in Wellington

It was the third sudden death to be reported in Wellington on Tuesday.

Two people at a residential property in Roseneath were found dead after a concerned family member asked police to carry out a welfare check.

Police confirmed the deaths of Ben and Claire Anderson were being treated as a suspected murder-suicide.

The British couple, who were boarding in the home, were described by their landlady and neighbours as “super lovely people” and “absolutely wonderful human beings”.

“Both they and their family lived life to the absolute full and were always planning or doing amazing adventures.” Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined NZME in 2023 and is interested in local issues, politics and property in the capital. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story and can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.