Police have today formally named a woman who died following an altercation involving a group in Ngāruawāhia, north-west of Hamilton, on Friday.
She was 42-year-old Turipapa Tukere of Ngāruawāhia.
Police were alerted to “a number of people fighting” on Waipa Esplanade, near the intersection of Newton St, around 1.30pm on Friday, December 27.
“Sometime later, a critically injured woman was taken to the ambulance station on Jordan St but despite the best efforts of first responders, the woman died before she could be airlifted to hospital,” Acting Detective Inspector Andy Saunders said.
A homicide investigation was launched that same day.
Saunders said police inquiries into the circumstances around Tukere’s death is ongoing.
“Someone who was present at that fight knows who is responsible,” he said.
“We are pleading with those people to come forward and speak to us.
“No piece of information is insignificant as we work to determine exactly what has occurred.”
Saunders said while police are “committed to identifying who is responsible for Turipapa’s death”, police involved in the investigation “can’t do this without the support and assistance from the community and those who were present”.
“There are people who know who is responsible and who are withholding information from the Police, but now is the time to do the right thing and speak to us.”
An increased police presence will remain in the area in coming days, he said.
“We know this is unsettling for our community and those involved, and officers will be carrying out reassurance patrols in the area.
“If you have any information that could help our enquiries, please update us online now at https://webforms.police.govt.nz/en/update-report or call 105.”
