Anyone with information or CCTV footage is asked to contact police and "not take it into your own hands". Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Police investigating the death of a person found in a car on fire in Hastings have launched a homicide inquiry.
The body was found after the fire on Irongate Road West in Longlands, Hastings on Tuesday.
Two days later, police said they were treating the death as suspicious.
Detective Inspector Marty James said police were following "strong lines of inquiry".
"We are continuing to piece together what happened and it is only a matter of time before we identify and locate those involved."
He could not give details about the person or the cause of death, only saying a formal identification process was still ongoing.
"This is tragic for whānau and our Flaxmere community," Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said in a statement. "Now we need to leave police to get on with their work."
There was a large team of investigators working on the case.
"Police are today conducting a forensic examination on the vehicle located which has been removed from the original scene.
"Police continue to review CCTV footage, conduct forensic examinations, and further enquiries," he said.
There was no ongoing risk to the public.
Anyone with information or CCTV footage was asked to contact police and "not take it into your own hands".
"This was an abhorrent act and we are determined to hold those responsible to account," James said.
