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Source: ONE News
A homicide investigation is underway following the death of a high-profile Rotorua man who was recently in trouble with the law for threatening behaviour.
ONE News last spoke with 36-year-old Hawea Vercoe only a month
ago.
Police say the Environment Bay of Plenty councillor and former
Destiny Party candidate died early Sunday morning after being
punched to the ground during a fight outside a Whakatane bar.
Vercoe faced losing his job as principal of Rotorua school Te Kura
Kaupapa o Rotoiti after he was found guilty and fined for sending
threatening texts to his ex-wife's partner.
He was the recipient of a threatening letter himself last year,
allegedly signed by white supremacists.
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Standen says Vercoe died after the incident about 2.30am Sunday.
"It is still too early to say exactly what has happened, however it does appear that some sort of fight broke out which resulted in the deceased being punched to the ground."
That may have caused Vercoe's death, he says.
A post mortem will be carried out on Monday morning.
Police cordoned off an area of The Strand, next to the Quart Bar, for forensic examination.
Officers are interviewing several witnesses and want to hear from anyone else who saw the incident or had any relevant information, says Standen.
Police are particularly keen to speak to people in about five vehicles, who drove past the bar at the time, he says.
The vehicles included a light coloured Subaru station wagon, a two-door light-coloured Japanese import, a four-door ute and a light-coloured Toyota Altezza which was parked next to the Quart Bar.
