Police in Nelson say the cause of death of a man who was gagged with duct tape remains unclear.
The tape was wrapped around the man's mouth by a flatmate after a drinking session in a Motueka house on Sunday night.
Detective Sergeant Kevin Tiernan says it was a joke, which had apparently been agreed to by the man, Michael James McGrath, 51.
Police have not ruled out charges, although the death does not appear to be sinister.
Post-mortem results will not be revealed until an inquest is held.
