Lower Hutt man's death upgraded to homicide

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Sears briefs media about the Paekakariki homicide investigation. Photo / John Weekes / NZME.

A homicide investigation has been launched as police reveal a man found dead next to his car north of Wellington was stabbed in an assault.

Lower Hutt man Matthew Stevens, 32, was found dead beside a damaged white Toyota Corolla on the side of the Paekakariki Hill Road about 7.30am on Friday.

Early indications were that the injuries sustained by Mr Stevens were inconsistent with a vehicle crash, so police were treating his death as suspicious.

Police today confirmed they had upgraded their inquiry to a homicide investigation.

The results of a post mortem examination confirmed Mr Stevens had suffered stab wounds and had been assaulted, police said.

Mr Sears briefed media on the homicide investigation this afternoon.

"The post mortem confirmed that he had been the victim of assault, and sustained a number of stab wounds which led to his death," Mr Sears said.

He said Mr Stevens' family last saw him on Thursday at 10pm.

Police were yet to establish when the assault happened, he said.

Detective Sergeant Mike Sears said police still wanted to hear from anyone who had seen Mr Stevens or his vehicle, registration number RZ1852, between 10pm on Thursday and 1.30am on Friday last week.

He said police were still examining Mr Stevens vehicle.

Mr Sears said anyone with information should call 04 381 2000 and ask for the Operation Vintage investigation team, or provide information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.