Driver gives himself up after road death

A driver alleged to have run over a man then taken his body to a relative's house handed himself in to police last night.

Mervyn Masiutama, 33, was wanted in connection with a fatal hit-and-run at Te Kohanga, near Tuakau, early yesterday.

Kirihaehae Kukutai, 27, died.

The men knew each other and had been attending a tangi at Te Kohanga before the accident.

It is understood Mr Kukutai was walking back to a relative's home after attending the tangi for his uncle at the nearby Te Kotahitanga Marae.

His body now lies on the marae.

Detective Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone said Mr Kukutai's body was driven to a house 500m from the crash scene.

The occupants of the house called for an ambulance at 4am.

Mr Grimstone said Mr Kukutai had suffered "considerable injuries".

"The driver has arrived at a nearby house with the deceased and has shortly after that time left the area in another vehicle," the detective said.

Masiutama is due to appear in the Pukekohe District Court today on two counts of driving while disqualified, one of breaching bail and one of failing to appear.