Police have made a second arrest as they continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the death of a 57-year-old man earlier this week.

The man died in Waikato Hospital on Tuesday, February 15, after being assaulted in Tāneatua on Monday, February 14, says a police spokesperson.

A 25-year-old man appeared in Whakatāne District Court today on aggravated robbery and assault charges related to incidents on Monday, February 14.

He was joined in court by a 28-year-old man, who had previously appeared in Ōpōtiki District Court on the same charges, the previous day.

A police statement says officers are continuing to carry out a number of inquiries to establish the circumstances of two assaults and a robbery in the town in correlation to the death. The deceased was assaulted in his home on Cobham Street on Monday, and died the following day in Waikato Hospital, according to police.

Police say the two men who have been arrested are alleged to have been involved in an assault on a 65-year-old man outside a bakery on Tuhoe Street the same day.

'They are then understood to have been two of three who travelled to the Gull petrol station in a white Mazda hatchback, and shortly after, assaulted a 45-year-old man and stolen his motorbike,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Wilson.

'The investigation into these incidents remains ongoing and is progressing well.”

He says police are actively pursuing new lines of inquiry.

'We have received a number of calls from members of the public since our appeal for information yesterday, and want to thank those who came forward with information,” says Wilson.

'This information is being assessed as part of our ongoing inquiries”

Police are still keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed any of these events, or anyone with information about what occurred on Monday.

'We are confident there are people out there who know who is responsible and who have information valuable to our investigation,” says Wilson.

'We urge them to do the right thing and come forward to Police.”

Anyone with information should contact Police via 105 and quote file number 220214/0810, or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The two men have been remanded in custody until Wednesday, February 23, when they are due to reappear in the Whakatāne District Court.