Northland Police have increased the size of the team investigating an assault which resulted in the death of 35-year old Lee Rata.
Rata died in Whangarei Hospital on New Year’s Day from head injuries received after an assault in Kaitaia, at around 11pm on New Year’s Eve.
A team of 15 police officers has been increased to 22 staff including five drawn from Waikato, Counties Manukau, Auckland and Waitemata Districts.
Detective Inspector Kevin Burke, Northland District Criminal Investigations Manager, said that a post mortem confirmed that Mr Rata died from blunt force trauma.
Rata has been returned to his family, and his tangi is taking place in the Far North. He is expected to be buried tomorrow.
“We have received good assistance from the public which has helped us in establishing who were present at the function in Bonnett Road near where the assault occurred. This includes numerous images of people who were at the function,” Detective Inspector Burke said.
“We are continuing to identify and speak with function guests and those who were nearby.
A number of the guests have returned to their homes outside Northland and we would like these people to contact us.
“Our priority is to establish who was responsible for this vicious beating and hold them to account.”