A Radio New Zealand journalist has died after being brutally attacked in Wellington on his way home from work.
Police upgraded the investigation to a homicide after the 43-year-old man died in Wellington Hospital on Sunday from injuries received when attacked on Saturday.
He has been named by media as Philip Cottrell.
Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Miller said the journalist was attacked in Boulcott Street between 5.30am and 6.15am on Saturday.
"As the victim got halfway down Boulcott Street outside the Baptist Church it appears an altercation has taken place and as a result the victim received fatal injuries."
Police have spent Sunday completing a scene examination and an area canvass.
"We have a number of inquiries which need to be carried out over the coming days to ascertain what has occurred and how this victim came to be fatally assaulted."
Wellington police spokeswoman Victoria Davis says police are working to obtain CCTV footage from the area.
Radio New Zealand spokesman John Barr told NZ Newswire the broadcaster had "great concerns" for staff safety and there were processes in place to keep staff safe.
He said that the attack had happened in daylight in a public area.
Police were alerted to the assault by Wellington Hospital.
Det Snr Sgt Miller asked for anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious near Boulcott Street to come forward.
The victim was wearing a grey long-sleeved striped shirt, faded blue jeans and a grey cotton jacket, and was carrying a black Adidas backpack.
The Wellington offices of Fairfax Media New Zealand are adjacent to the Baptist Church. A spokesman for the company said it did not have a security camera on Boulcott Street.
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