Source: New Zealand Police
Attribute to Area Investigations Manager, Detective Senior Sergeant Ian Foster:
A postmortem examination is expected to take place tomorrow after a body was found in a car fire in Aria, Waitomo, yesterday.
Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand were alerted around 6am on Sunday 16 August to a car on fire on Mokauiti Road.
Fire and Emergency responded to tend to the fire. Upon their arrival, a person has been located deceased in the vehicle and they advised Police.
Cordons were in place yesterday on Mokauiti Road, between Waitahi Road and Oniao Road, while Police worked at the scene and the road was reopened by 8.30pm.
Formal identification is underway and a postmortem is expected to take place tomorrow.
At this stage, the death is being treated as unexplained and enquiries are ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/08/17/update-car-fire-body-located-in-aria-waitomo/