Brawl, deaths stretch police to the limit

Police investigating three deaths in Porirua within two hours were stretched to the limit after disorderly concertgoers converged on the city centre.

And in Wellington, a female constable suffered a broken nose while helping to break up a brawl outside Westpac Stadium, after Wellington's rugby defeat by Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup on Saturday night.

Senior Sergeant Tony Smith said Porirua police asked for reinforcements from Wellington police to disperse groups of young people, who gathered in central Porirua after a rap concert in Elsdon.

The disorder added to an already busy night for Porirua police, who were called to three deaths in the area.

About 10.30pm on Saturday, a 64-year-old man died in front of family members after collapsing outside the Titahi Bay boat club.

Police also attended the death of a five-month-old baby. The death is not believed to be suspicious.

Early on Sunday, police were called to New World supermarket in Porirua, where they discovered the body of a 54-year-old Porirua man in a corner of the underground car park. His death was also not believed to be suspicious.

Mr Smith said the disorder in the city stretched police, who needed to attend the scenes of the three deaths.

Wellington police were also stretched with a report of an aggravated robbery of a Karori dairy on Saturday night, and the brawl at Westpac Stadium.

Police made several arrests when they were called in to break up the brawl. A female constable suffered a broken nose.

Senior Sergeant Anita Dixon said further backup for police was called but officers were diverted to a double-fatality car crash near Aotea Quay.

- © Fairfax NZ News