Homicide inquiry in Hawke’s Bay
Police have found several ‘‘items of interest’’ near a Hawke’s Bay pub where a man died after receiving serious injuries.
The death is being treated as a homicide.
Detective Senior Sergeant Marty James said police were called to the Flax Bar and Eatery – also known as the Flaxmere Tavern – near Hastings, at 10.30pm on Sunday.
A member of the public told officers they had come across the victim who was seriously injured but responsive in the tavern’s car park.
Emergency services staff tried to save the victim but he died at the scene.
A large cordon has been erected between the pub, which closes at 8.30pm on Sundays, and nearby Flaxmere pool.
The man has not yet been formally identified but police confirmed he was ‘‘around’’ 40-yearsold. His body was removed from the scene at 4pm yesterday, with an autopsy expected to be carried out today.
James said about 25 police staff were involved in the investigation.
A ‘‘number of items of interest’’ were identified within the cordon and police were working to establish whether they were relevant.
It was too early to say how the victim sustained his injuries, James said. He was known to ‘‘a number of people’’ in Flaxmere.
None of the residents spoken to at Swansea Village council flats, opposite the crime scene, saw or heard anything.
Allan Pollard, the chief executive of Trust House, which owns the bar, said ‘‘nothing untoward happened’’ at the pub before it closed on Sunday.
‘‘It used to have a bit of a reputation, that pub, but we’ve had nothing for a few years now. It’d be a long time since we’ve had real any issues,’’ he said.
Hastings district councillor Henare O’Keefe, of Flaxmere ward, said it was a grim situation. ‘‘We’re constantly punching above our weight ... in terms of embellishing our reputation, doing all the wonderful things that go on here but unfortunately it’s a case of three steps forward and one back.
‘‘It’s horrific and I feel for the victim’s family but please don’t let this tarnish the things that go on in our wonderful suburb.’’