KEY POINTS:
A baby's placenta has been found in a stolen car by police investigating the weekend fatal driveby shooting of Desmond Arahanga in Waikato.
Police found the stolen white Subaru Impreza WRX on Sunday in the shed of a home in Matamata, about 7km south of Waharoa, where Mr Arahanga was gunned down about 1am on Sunday morning.
The car, which police believe was stolen several hours after Mr Arahanga was shot, was not the one police believe was involved in the shooting.
Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Nicholls said today it took police some time to find the owner of the car containing the placenta.
But he said they subsequently discovered it had been stolen from Rukumoana Marae, near Morrinsville, on Sunday morning. The placenta would be returned to the owners today.
"It would be speculating to comment on why the car was stolen at this stage," he said.
The placenta has great significance to Maori and is usually buried in the family's land after a child's birth.
Police said the white car in which the placenta was found as part of the investigation but was not the one they believe was used in the shooting.
Police believe that car was a blue 1994 Subaru Legacy Brighton, registration DFS845, which was seized by police in Matamata on Monday night.
A man has been charged with assaulting Mr Arahanga and Mr Nicholls said police were still looking for others.
The homicide investigation team was continuing with further interviews today.
- NZPA
