Body found in central Palmerston North

Tuesday, 16 February 2021

A body has been found in Palmerston North's Te Marae o Hine/The Square on Tuesday.

Emergency services were called to a garden near the duck pond just before 1pm after a man was found dead in the bushes next to Palmerston North City Council’s chambers.

Police officers were speaking with a group of people at the scene and were working to establish the circumstances, a police spokeswoman said.

Rangitāne kaumātua Wiremu Kingi Te Awe Awe performed a karakia (prayer) at the site and deemed the area tapu (sacred) during a blessing at 2pm.

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It is important for Māori to lift the wairua (spirit) of a person who dies, Te Awe Awe said.

“I was asking for the spirit to go ahead and go to the resting place.”

The body was removed by police just after 3.30pm. Te Awe Awe said he would return on Wednesday to lift the tapu.

Do you know more? Email maxine.jacobs@stuff.co.nz