Te Kauwhata retirement village death: Police wrap up scene examinations

Police inquiries are ongoing into an "unexplained death" at this Waikato retirement village on August 5. Photo / Malisha Kumar

The chairman of a retirement village where police are investigating what has been called an unexplained death says it’s been a sad time but that’s “part of life at a retirement village”.

Scene examinations have concluded into the death at Aparangi Retirement Village but police said their investigation was ongoing.

Senior Sergeant Kristine Clarke earlier told Waikato Herald police were making inquiries into an unexplained death at the Pilgrim Place address in Te Kauwhata on August 5.

“A scene examination and a post-mortem are being undertaken,” Clarke said on Tuesday.

A police spokesperson told Waikato Herald on Thursday the scene examination had been completed.

“Inquiries are ongoing and we have no further updates at this stage.”

Police and forensics are at the scene on August 6, following an unexplained death the day before in Te Kauwhata, Waikato. Photo / Malisha Kumar

Aparangi Village Trust Board chairman John Cunningham confirmed there had been a sudden death at the village.

He said it had been a sad time, but it was “part of life at a retirement village”.

“At a retirement village, the average age is a bit higher than the average population, and guess what that means? It means they’re getting closer to unfortunately shuffling off, but that’s the reality.

“It’s sad and unexpected and police are still doing their reporting, but I’m not expecting any escalation.”

Cunningham said it was standard procedure to inform police of a sudden death at a retirement home, but he did not suspect foul play.

“We don’t get sudden deaths often and it is sad, but it’s not exceptional. We’ll get a report from police and I’m sure it will show that they’re not going after anybody else, but I’m not going to pre-judge their report.”

He said village residents weren’t directly affected, and support systems were in place for staff.

Earlier in the week police caution tape encircled the property, with a mobility scooter seen being examined at the entrance. Two police vehicles, detectives and a forensics team were onsite.

This morning, Waikato Herald attended the scene again and saw no police staff or caution tape at the address.

A security guard was sitting in his vehicle guarding the property.

Malisha Kumar is a multimedia journalist based in Hamilton. She joined the Waikato Herald in 2023 after working for Radio 1XX in Whakatāne.