Whangārei District Court (file image).
Photo: RNZ / Peter de Graaf

A second man has appeared in court in relation to a death in the Northland town of Ruakākā last week.

The discovery of the body of 24-year-old Teina Pickering on Peter Snell Road in the early hours of Thursday morning sparked a police homicide investigation and has led to two arrests.

The second man to be arrested, Ethan Hokai, appeared in the Whangārei District Court this morning charged with resisting police, assaulting a police officer, possession of a knife in a public place, and possession of two shotgun cartridges.

The 28-year-old from Whangārei was remanded in custody and is due back in court for a bail hearing on October 25.

Another man has already appeared in court charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and is also being held in custody. He is due back in court tomorrow.

Police say more charges are likely and they are not looking for anyone else.

Police are, however, still keen to hear from anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area early on Thursday morning, or who had information that could help the investigation.

They can call police on 105 or make a report online at https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105 quoting file number 231012/4721.

Peter Snell Road was closed to traffic near Bream Bay College on Thursday morning while police carried out a scene investigation.