Police have identified the body of a man found in a car which appeared to have crashed off a road north of Porirua and caught fire early on Friday morning.
He was Timo Tea Penaia, 51, of Porirua, the sole occupant of the vehicle.
The car was discovered in the Whenuatapu Cemetery area near the intersection on SH1 and Airlie Rd, Pukerua Bay, by firefighters at about 2.20am.
Detective Constable Simon Humphries of the Porirua police said the fire service was called to a bushfire at the site and firefighters didn't realise a car was involved until firefighters stumbled upon it.
Mr Humphries said investigators were still trying to find out what caused the crash, in which the car hit a power pole before travelling about 30m off the road.
He said police were seeking witnesses to the crash.
- NZPA
Body in burnt out car identified
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