A pathologist has deemed the death of a young man in a house in Hunua to be suspicious.

Police say they were called to the house on Nairn Roasd shortly before 1pm on Saturday and the man, in his 20s, was dead when they arrived.

A pathologist who was asked to come to the scene has deemed the death to be suspicious.

The family, who are being co-operative, are being supported by police.

The property is being guarded overnight.

There will be a post-mortem examination on Sunday.

"One line of inquiry we are pursuing is whether or not (the man) was assaulted whilst out the previous night," police say.