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Police have made a second arrest in the investigation into a fatal stabbing in Mt Wellington, after locating two suspects in the Waikato region.
Operation Hawkin was launched on Friday, December 5, after a man was allegedly stabbed during an altercation on Harris Road in Mt Wellington.
The victim later arrived at a medical centre on Lunn Avenue with critical injuries before being transported to Auckland City Hospital, where he died later that afternoon.
The first arrest was made on December 7, when Police took a 21-year-old man into custody and charged him with murder and other offences. He appeared in the Auckland District Court today.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard, of Auckland City CIB, says the investigation subsequently led officers south into the Waikato.
“Two men were taken into custody near Te Awamutu without incident,” he says. “We have charged a 21-year-old man with murder and we are currently speaking with the second man as part of the investigation.”
The newly arrested 21-year-old is expected to appear in the Hamilton District Court tomorrow.
Beard says the investigative team has made “extraordinary progress” in recent days.
“The community should take some reassurance that we have arrested two men we believe are the primary offenders in this case,” he says. “There is still a lot of work ahead of us and we cannot rule out further arrests, so this is not over.”
Police earlier confirmed the victim was stabbed with a sharp object during an altercation with occupants of a hatchback vehicle on Harris Road. A blue Nissan March believed to be involved was later found on Laud Avenue in Ellerslie.
Area canvassing and CCTV collection are continuing, and officers have conducted forensic examinations at multiple scenes.
Police continue to ask for information from anyone who witnessed the altercation or who may have dashcam or CCTV footage taken around Harris Road or Laud Avenue at about 12pm on Friday, 5 December. Information can be provided online or via 105, quoting reference 251205/6107, or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
The Coroner has issued an interim non-publication order prohibiting release of the victim’s identity until at least 22 December 2025.
