New Zealand / Waikato

Homeless man was attacked before death

17:51 pm on 3 January 2017

A homeless man whose body was found in the Waikato River was assaulted before he died, preliminary post-mortem results show.

Police said earlier that Tama Retimana, 29, had been living at a campsite in the area with his partner. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police

Tama Retimana, 29, was found dead by a kayaker in the Hamilton area on Tuesday.

Police said earlier that he had been living at a campsite with his partner, and they wanted to identify the other people who had been living there.

Detective Sergeant Terri Wilson said the post-mortem results showed Mr Retimana had been attacked.

"Our focus is now on the occupants of the campground situated at Pine Beach, as we search for the facts surrounding Mr Retimana's death," she said.

Members of the area's homeless community were upset at the death, and officers would be speaking with them, she said.