Whangārei motorcyclist shot in Ōtaika Valley Rd, body abandoned in creek

Police are piecing together what took place on the layby on Ōtaika Valley Road earlier this week.

• A motorcyclist found dead near Whangārei was shot, police confirmed.
• The man’s body was discovered near State Highway 15-Ōtaika Valley Rd around 5am Wednesday.
• Police are seeking dashcam footage as they confirmed other cars were present near the time the motorcyclist arrived at the crime scene.

A motorcyclist found dead near Whangārei was shot, police have confirmed, as they appeal for any video footage to help their investigation.

The man’s body was discovered in a creek near State Highway 15–Ōtaika Valley Rd around 5am on Wednesday.

His motorbike was on the side of the road in a layby.

Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer said an autopsy had confirmed the man was shot.

It is believed he was killed on Tuesday night between 7pm and 11pm. Police could not yet release more details about the firearm used, he said.

Pilmer did, however, call for more dashcam and other footage.

“We now know from dashcam footage that there were a number of vehicles parked in the layby prior to the victim arriving on his motorbike,” Pilmer said.

The public had sent in a steady stream of footage since police launched an appeal for information on Thursday.

“This is an encouraging start, and this is already helping us piece together a timeline of movements in and around that layby,” Pilmer said.

Pilmer earlier said the person’s family members had been coming to terms with “their loved one succumbing to foul play”.

Police had at that time been focused on tracking the whereabouts of a blue and silver road bike found in the layby area, opposite the entrance to the Ōtaika Valley Scenic Reserve.

They were interested in sightings of the bike between 8pm on Tuesday and 5am Wednesday.

How the public can help

• Police would like any sightings of the victim’s blue and silver coloured road bike that was parked in the layby, especially between 8pm on January 28 to 5am on January 29.
• Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage around key locations between those times should also contact police. These areas of interest are along Ōtaika Valley Rd, between the intersections with State Highway 14, Maungatāpere, and Loop and Cemetery roads, in Ōtaika.
• An online portal has been set up for any footage or photographs to be uploaded. Please go to https://distant.nc3.govt.nz
• Anyone with further information should call police on 105 and reference the file number 250129/0335.Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.