Security guard death now homicide

Charanpreet Dhaliwal. Photo / Supplied

The death of a security guard in Auckland a week ago is now being treated as a homicide.

Waitakere Police have upgraded their enquiries into the unexplained death of 22-year-old Charanpreet Singh Dhaliwal.

The investigation - Operation Hope - began last Friday when Mr Dhaliwal's body was found at a west Auckland construction site.

The Waitakere CIB investigation team is now satisfied that he died from head injuries after an assault.

The construction site where the body was found is close to the Lincoln Road-North Western Motorway overbridge.

Police are appealing to anyone who was in that area between midnight and 3.00am on Friday 18 November to come forward.

"The public can play a crucial role in this investigation. Someone has the essential information needed to advance this enquiry,'' said a police statement this afternoon.

"All available security surveillance footage is being accessed and reviewed. Investigators want to identify several persons who are known to have been in the area at the time.''

Anyone who has information is urged to call the Operation Hope investigation team on 0800 OP HOPE _ [0800 674 673] _ or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.