Resident slain in 23rd floor flat

The Quadrant is on Waterloo Quay in the central city. Photo / Greg Bowker

A 31-year-old man is likely to be charged with murder or manslaughter after the death yesterday of a man in one of Auckland's most upmarket hotel and apartment buildings.

It is understood the victim died from stab wounds.

The arrested man is understood to have spread blood through two lifts of the Quadrant Hotel in central Auckland as the 30-year-old victim lay dead in an apartment on the 23rd floor.

A homicide inquiry began after the body was found about 7.15am.

Two other people - the arrested 31-year-old and another person, 30, who has not been charged - were in the apartment, which is separate from the hotel, when emergency services arrived.

The arrested man has been charged with assault, but police say he is likely to face a murder or manslaughter charge when the results of a post-mortem examination are known today.

Police refused yesterday to reveal the gender of the third person, saying it was "important to the investigation".

The arrested man, who had a minor injury, is believed to have dripped blood in a lift as he rode down to the ground level and in another lift going back to the 23rd floor.

The lifts were closed to tenants and hotel guests as forensic teams worked at the scene.

The injured man was checked by ambulance staff before being interviewed by detectives at Auckland Central police station.

Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley, of Auckland City police, said the three people lived in the apartment as tenants.

Police had an idea who the dead man was but had not confirmed his identity.

"We haven't been able to speak to any family whatsoever," Mr Whitley said.

"At this stage, I don't think our deceased has any family and that's why we're struggling to find them."

Asked if the trio were related, he said: "We're trying to assess that. As I say, they are all known to each other and we're trying to establish the status of the people."

One of the two people called police to the apartment. It was not know how long the man had been dead when the call was made.

Mr Whitley said he couldn't say whether there had been a party at the apartment because the matter was before the courts.

"All I can say is they all lived there and it was the result of an incident that occurred in the apartment."

There was no indication of drugs or alcohol, Mr Whitley said.

The backgrounds of all three were being looked into, he added.

Mr Whitley said the 31-year-old man would appear in the Auckland District Court "if all goes to plan".

But he raised the possibility of a hearing away from the court building, suggesting the man may be in hospital today.