Police name victim of homicide near Hamilton Lake
Tuesday, 23 December 2025
Police have named the man who died in an incident near Hamilton Lake last Thursday.
He was 55-year-old Jason Poa, also known as Jason Tipene.
Police were called to a Lake Crescent house on December 18 where they found two people with serious injuries.
One man died at the scene while a second person had suffered a serious arm injury and was taken to Waikato Hospital.
Detective Inspector Daryl Smith said the homicide investigation continues.
Police are appealing for sightings of a Subaru Impreza hatchback, with the registration KZH714.
The incident put several residents on edge as armed police cordoned off the area on Friday.
Police say they believe those involved “travelled on foot” between the house and the Innes Common toilet blocks.
The mood, one resident told the Waikato Times, was sombre and sad “because it’s a bit close to home”.
Another resident said the police presence was necessary and “a good idea” and necessary.
“If there’s been a murder though, of course they have to be out there. Bzut it doesn’t worry me,” she said.
A resident who gave her name as Kiely said there was a major sense of unease around the area.
“This is not a rough sort of neighbourhood,” Kiely said.
Lake Cr resident Geoff Genner said it’s the first time the road has been cordoned off by police in his ten years there.
The road is often closed for events or roadworks, he said.
One man, who was off on a bike ride when approached by the Waikato Times, said he came home on Thursday night to police on his street.
“We thought it was a booze stop,” he said.
Detective Inspector Daryl Smith said police are working to find those involved and ask anyone with information to come forward.
“We know this will be an unsettling time for those in our community that such violence occurred in a public place. I can reassure people we are working hard to hold people to account,” Smith said.
Anyone with information is urged to make an online report or calling 105, using reference number 251218/5897.
Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.