Police say the man found dead under the McLaren Falls Bridge on Friday was beaten to death.
Detective Inspector Graham Pitkethely, speaking from Hamilton Central Police Station, told media on Wednesday that Mitchell Paterson was killed after a "physical assault".
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The police investigation into his death is ongoing.
The Nissan Terrano being sought by police in relation to the homicide has now been located, and they are appealing for sightings of the vehicle travelling between Hamilton and McLaren Falls late last week.
Mr Paterson's death is the third homicide in the Waikato region in two weeks. All three killings are believed to be gang-related.
Wayne Terrence Noda, 48, was found dead in his Huntly home on Saturday, June 30.
Nine days later, 23-year-old Robert Nelson died from injuries sustained during a shooting in Melville on July 8.
Det Insp Pitkethely says the deaths were "targeted attacks on particular people", and that the wider community shouldn't be alarmed by the spate of violent crime.
"Law-abiding citizens within the Waikato District have nothing to fear."
He says gang violence has been an on-going problem "for some time", and the region's statistics are in keeping with trends across the country.
He would not name the gangs believed to be involved in the homicides, but said it was more than one. Police have no reason to fear retaliation from the gangs, he told media.
There is no indication the three homicides are linked.
Det Insp Pitkethely says police are making good progress in their investigations into the deaths, with more than 60 dedicated staff across each homicide.
"Every day we get closer."
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