Man in custody as police investigate Wattle Downs homicide

A 30-year-old man is in police custody as detectives work to establish who was responsible for the Wattle Downs double homicide.

Police confirmed this morning they are speaking with the man in relation to the deaths but have not said he has been arrested or charged.

Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua, of Counties Manukau CIB, says police are still working to establish whether the man is involved.

“Police can confirm they are speaking with a 30-year-old male in their custody in relation to the double homicide,” Va’aelua said in his media release. “Police are working to determine whether this male is involved.”

The development comes as police continue their investigation at the Gambare Place property, where a woman and a man were found dead on Thursday afternoon.

Police have maintained a presence at the property overnight, with forensic and crime scene officers entering the home early on Friday morning.

Detective Inspector Tofilau Faamanuia Va’aelua of Counties Manukau CIB says police are working to determine whether a 30-year-old man in custody is involved in the Wattle Downs double homicide. Photo/RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Daniel Newman, who lives in Wattle Downs, says residents remain concerned but are also relying on police to keep the community safe.

“People are concerned. People are wanting to understand what had happened,” he told William Terite on Pacific Mornings.

Newman says the police response has reassured residents. “Police resource these responses appropriately and the community, I believe, can have confidence in that.”

Listen to Daniel Newman's full interview below.

He says the incident has been deeply confronting for a neighbourhood where schools were placed into lockdown and armed officers were on the streets.

“To have armed police officers on the street, to have schools under a lockdown protocol on a busy afternoon on a Thursday in Manurewa is deeply confronting,” Newman said.

“But I'm very grateful to the first responders who were out there very quickly working to try and keep the community safe.”

Newman also says the incident should not define the wider Wattle Downs community.

“I think that our community is a good one. I certainly love living here and I love my neighbours and I believe that we will respond to this and get on with our days, which is the right thing to do, and the police will be supported to do their job.”

The investigation has also revealed an account from a nearby resident who says he saw a car arrive shortly before gunshots were heard.

Police outside the Gambare Place property in Wattle Downs on Friday as forensic and crime scene officers continue their investigation into the deaths of a woman and a man. Photo/RNZ/Jessica Hopkins

The man, who gave his first name as Robbie to RNZ, said he was outside having a cigarette when he saw a car “bolting up the street”.

“He slammed on the breaks, got out ran up the drive and all we hear after that is 'pop, pop, pop, pop',” he said.

Robbie said he then heard the car drive away, followed by a woman screaming.

Police say the incident appeared to be isolated but they were unable to rule anything out as they worked to establish what happened.

Anyone with information that could help the investigation can contact Police on 105.