Man hit and dragged by car for 2km

Police have launched a homicide investigation after a man was run down and dragged two kilometres by a car in South Auckland last night.

The man, whose body was found late last night in Great South Road, was originally thought to have been the victim of a road accident.

"It now appears a man was run down by a vehicle outside the Otahuhu Rugby grounds in Awa Street at about 11 o'clock last night and dragged more than two kilometres to where his body was discovered at the intersection of Great South Road and Portage Road by members of the public," Inspector Ian Brooker from the police Northern Communications Centre in Auckland.

Police immediately closed off the area to traffic and put diversions in place.

Police said business people were being allowed pedestrian access.

"Investigators are aware the area is a main thoroughfare and business area and every endeavour is being made to minimise traffic and commercial disruption," Mr Brooker said.

"Diversions however are expected to remain in place for most of the morning and motorists are advised to avoid the area," he said.

No details of the dead man were available.

Police said they could not rule out the possibility that the incident may be gang-related.

- NZPA