Police remain at the scene of a Mt Albert Kāinga Ora estate where a person died on Monday afternoon. Video / Ben Dickens
Police remain at the scene of a Mt Albert Kāinga Ora estate where a person died with a tent erected on a rear walkway and detectives focusing on a unit.
A homicide investigation is under way at a Kāinga Ora estate known to have had security issues in the past.
One man died after a reported “disorder incident” on He Ana Way, in Mt Albert, Auckland about 1.15pm yesterday.
Police found one person in a critical condition and another who was seriously injured. St John Ambulance took one person to Auckland City Hospital while the other man died at the scene.
Detective Senior Sergeant Lisa Anderson said police had not arrested anybody, but she said the two victims were known to each other and police did not believe there was a wider risk to the public.
“Police will have a visible presence in Mount Albert as our investigation progresses,” Anderson said.
“We will be speaking to those in the area who witnessed what has occurred and we encourage anyone else with information that may assist to please contact police as soon as possible.”
‘We had bodyguards here for months’ - residents talk of troublesome neighbour
Trouble at the housing estate, built in 2019, was not new, as Kāinga Ora spent almost $300,000 on security guards to ease concerns about one resident, newsroom.co.nz reported.
Kāinga Ora’s regional director for central and east Auckland, John Tubberty, confirmed the homicide happened at one of the state housing provider’s properties.
St John Ambulance took one person to Auckland City Hospital while the other man died at the scene. Photo / Jason Oxenham
He wouldn’t be drawn on security concerns at the complex, saying any further questions should be directed to police.
Security guards were stationed at the complex during the Covid-19 lockdowns, and it remains unclear whether these measures were still in place. Residents who spoke to the Herald after the homicide reported near-constant trouble.
Kāinga Ora told newsroom.co.nz that the security guards were “deployed at this site to mitigate any antisocial behaviour. The primary focus is to provide for the safety and security of vulnerable tenants”.
Homes neighbouring the development are valued at $2 million.
Police found one person in a critical condition and another who was seriously injured. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Minutes after the homicide, the Herald could still hear shouts coming from inside the building. Several neighbours stood on their balconies, in the rain, watching police cordon off entrances to their properties.
One resident said she had lived on the street for some 30 years and had never experienced an incident like this.
Another, who asked not to be named because of fears for their safety, said Kāinga Ora refused to answer their complaints about the ongoing poor behaviour of some tenants living in the complex.
“We had bodyguards here for months,” he said. “There was a lot of smashing but this has been escalating and escalating.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Lisa Anderson said police had not arrested anybody, but she said the two victims were known to each other and police did not believe there was a wider risk to the public. Photo / Jason Oxenham
People nearby told the Herald they heard a smashing sound and yelling before emergency services arrived.
“If they [Kāinga Ora] actually dealt with stuff, it would be a deterrent to others,” the concerned resident said.
Tubberty said: “We’re carrying out welfare checks with our customers and we’ll be talking with others living in the immediate area to provide any support needed as this will be distressing for our people.”
Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
