Police have today charged 12 people for the murder of a Rotorua man last month - seven of them in a small Bay of Plenty town.
Zain Taikato Fox, aged 20, died in Rotorua Hospital of critical injuries on 28 July.
Officers have conducted numerous enquiries since then, culminating in search warrants being executed in Maketu, Rotorua, and Whanganui this morning.
Detective Inspector Craig Rawlinson says it is a big day for the small town.
"Most of those arrested are from Maketu, and these arrests will have a significant positive impact on the township," he says.
"It's great to have progressed this investigation to this point. Our thoughts are with Zain's family, and we hope this will help reassure the greater Bay of Plenty community."
Police Iwi Liaison officers, who have been in Maketu today, will remain to help ensure those affected by these arrests get any support they need.
The 12 people are all appearing in Tauranga Youth Court later today.
Details of the arrests:
- Four Rotorua men - aged 23, 25, 29, and 54.
- A male youth was arrested in Whanganui (and will be appearing in Tauranga by audio-visual link).
- Seven Maketu men - aged 37, 38 and 63, two aged 22, and two aged 40.
