15 Mar 2024

Second person arrested in relation to death of Raglan man Cedric Maniapoto

3:23 pm on 15 March 2024
Police want to hear from anyone who saw this Toyota Camry registration SB857 between 10pm on 5 March and 12pm on 6 March.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw this Toyota Camry registration SB857 between 10pm on 5 March and 12pm on 6 March. Photo: NZ Police

A second person has been arrested in relation to the death of Cedric Maniapoto in Te Uku, near Raglan.

Police want to hear from anyone who has seen this Toyota Hilux registration EBM957 between 10pm on 5 March and 12pm 6 March.

Police want to hear from anyone who has seen this Toyota Hilux registration EBM957 between 10pm on 5 March and 12pm 6 March. Photo: NZ Police

The 35-year-old man has been charged with unlawful possession of firearms and appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Thursday.

Widely known by friends and family as 'Brother Cedi', Maniapoto, who was 58, was found dead on Tuesday last week.

Earlier this week a 29-year-old Waikato man was arrested and charged with his murder.

In a statement on Friday, Acting Inspector Andrew Saunders said a number of firearms which were recovered as part of the investigation would undergo forensic examination.

Police were still seeking sightings of two vehicles any time between 10pm on Tuesday 5 March and 12pm on Wednesday 6 March, he said.

"The first is a black Toyota Hilux Ute with the registration number EBM957 and the second is a red Toyota Camry with the registration SB857."

Police also wanted to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity of East Street in the early hours of Wednesday 6 March, he said.

Saunders said police were also still enquiring into a dog called Napier which was found with gunshot wounds about 7am near the Te Uku store on Tuesday 5 March.

Police were interested in any information which would clarify how the dog came to be there, he said.

Anyone with information should call 105 and reference file number 240305/1701 or information can be given anonymously via Crimestoppers.

An aerial shot of the East Street area in Raglan. Police want to hear from anyone who was in the vicinity in the early hours of 6 March 2024.

An aerial shot on the East Street area. Photo: NZ Police