A homicide investigation following the death of a local man who was left for dead on a Haumoana beach on Monday is ongoing in what has been dubbed "Operation Helm".
Mark Geoffrey Beale, 45, was found unconscious on a beach in Haumoana about 7am on Monday and was taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital where he remained in a critical condition in intensive care before he died on Tuesday morning as a result of serious head injuries.
Detective inspector Mike Foster said inquiries into what happened were ongoing and a post-mortem was being carried out in Wellington today.
He said that a specialist search group had finished an examination of the area where Mr Beale was found unconscious and that the scene had also been examined forensically.
Mr Foster also said the information provided by the public so far was "heartening" and encouraged anyone who hadn't spoken to police to come forward.