Tauranga stabbing: Accused remanded in custody

A man was found dead in Mansfield St, Tauranga after attending a party at a nearby house on Saturday. Photo / NZME.

A man has been remanded in custody for an alleged stabbing that police say is linked to the murder of a Tauranga man.

The 36-year-old machine worker appeared at the Tauranga District Court today to face a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The charge relates to an incident at 12.30am on Sunday where a man was assaulted on Ohauiti Rd near the intersection with Welcome Bay Rd.

The injured man suffered facial and hand injuries and was admitted to Tauranga Hospital but was discharged.

The man's lawyer Paul Mabey, QC, did not seek an application for bail and the man has been remanded in custody to reappear in court on December 16.

Mr Mabey said the man was considered a suspect in "a homicide inquiry" and his name should not be published.

Police have said they believed the incident the accused was involved in, and the discovery of Taneka Tiepa-Ranapia's body outside an Ohauiti house on Sunday morning, were linked.

The Herald understands a tangi for Mr Tiepa-Ranapia, who had connections to the Bloods and Mongrel Mob gangs, began at a Papamoa house on Monday.