Teenager likely to have frozen to death

A scarf hangs near the Taupo hockey ground where Malcolm Karaitiana-Nicoll's body was found. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The family of a Taupo teenager whose body was found just five minutes' walk from his grandparents' home on Sunday are confused about why he might have gone out drinking, saying he was not the mischievous type.

But while it is also perplexing how Malcolm Leonard Karaitiana-Nicoll scaled a 3m-high fence to get into the hockey grounds where he was found, his parents are satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Sergeant James McGrogan of Taupo police said freezing temperatures in Taupo on Saturday night were a "significant contributor" to the tragedy that claimed the popular 14-year-old's life.

He said Malcolm could have been drinking, but would not confirm this until toxicology reports were released in a few weeks.

Yesterday, stunned whanau members were awaiting the return of the body from a post-mortem examination in Auckland.

Malcolm's grandmother Kay Nicoll said her grandson "was not a drinker" but could have been sneaking in a few drinks out the back of her home on Saturday night.

She last saw him about 9.30pm when he sneaked off with a friend but thought nothing of it at the time.

Mrs Nicoll was more worried because Malcolm was wearing just a hooded sweatshirt.

"This is what we can't understand," she said. "He wouldn't go out and drink, he wasn't a tutu [mischief-maker] ... He was well-respected and very, very smart."

Taupo police said Malcolm was with two others in Hickling Reserve, near the hockey club, when they became separated about 11pm.

One of his mates looked for Malcolm but could not find him as temperatures plummeted to around minus 2C.

It is not clear whether the boy alerted Malcolm's family.

Malcolm was found about 8.30 on Sunday morning by his Phoenix rugby league teammates, with whom he was supposed to play that day.

His coach tried to revive him but it is understood he had been dead for some time.

Malcolm's father, Steven Nicoll, said the family were "obviously in shock" and were just waiting to get his body back.

He was satisfied there was nothing unusual in Malcolm's death.

"It was the cold that got my boy, nothing else."

His mother, Kim Karaitiana, said her son excelled academically and wanted to be a lawyer when he left school.

He was an outstanding kapa haka performer who used to enjoy going pig hunting with his koro (grandfather).

"He was actually pretty vain. He always presented himself well," Ms Karaitiana said.

Mr McGrogan said police had spoken to the two boys who were with Malcolm on Saturday night and police were not looking for anyone else in connection with his death.

Detective Sergeant Tony Manunui said that if alcohol was a factor, it was unlikely the people who supplied the minors would be pursued.

Malcolm's tangi is to be held at Pakira Marae at Waitahanui,about 10km south of Taupo, onThursday.