Police have launched a homicide investigation in Northland following the discovery of a man’s body in a vehicle in Kawakawa.

A 49-year-old man has been charged with murder and would be appearing in Kaikohe District Court today.

Emergency services were called to a Station Rd carpark near the Caltex petrol station around 7.45am on Sunday.

Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston said the death was initially treated as unexplained, however, it was now believed he was the victim of a “violent assault”.

Police were also searching a property in the seaside settlement of TeTii in relation to the investigation.

A post-mortem and formal identification process were yet to be carried out.

Police were seeking sightings of a black Ford Falcon with registration number BYM765 which had since been removed from the scene.

Johnston said it visited the Caltex station in Kawakawa around 7.15am on April 13.

“We would like to talk to anyone who noticed this vehicle or spoke with the occupants during the morning of Sunday, 13 April,” Johnston said.

Information can be supplied through the 105 service quoting reference number 250413/7779.

Information can also be shared anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.