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Police have today charged 12 people for the murder of a Rotorua man last month – seven of those charged are from the small Bay of Plenty town of Maketu.

Zain Taikato Fox, aged 20, died in Rotorua Hospital of critical injuries on July 28.

Officers have conducted numerous inquiries since then, culminating in search warrants being executed in Maketu, Rotorua, and Whanganui this morning.

Detective Inspector Craig Rawlinson said it was a big day for the small town of Maketū.

“Most of those arrested are from Maketu and these arrests will have a significant positive impact on the township,” he said.

“It’s great to have progressed this investigation to this point. Our thoughts are with Zain’s family, and we hope this will help reassure the greater Bay of Plenty community.”

Police iwi liaison officers, who have been in Maketu today, will remain to help ensure those affected by the arrests get any support they need.

The 12 people are all appearing in Tauranga Youth Court later today.

Those arrested included four men from Rotorua aged 23, 25, 29, and 54.

The seven men arrested from Maketu were aged 37, 38 and 63, two were aged 22, and two were aged 40.

A male youth was arrested in Whanganui and will appear in the Tauranga Youth Court via audio-visual link.

 is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.