Chinese border police have been alerted as New Zealand Police hunt other people involved in the murder of a Chinese student, said the local Police Thursday.

The body of Chinese student, Wan Biao, 19, was put into a suitcase which was then thrown into Auckland's Waitemata Harbor on Good Friday morning.

Three Chinese appeared in an Auckland court Wednesday and Thursday respectively, being charged over murder, kidnapping and being accessory after the fact of murder.

The Police said their inquiries were not over.

"It goes with the territory the arrests are the start of another phase," said Detective Inspector Bernie Hollewand.

The Police "need to interview" other people, who could be charged, he said.

The Police knew their identities and an alert had been sent to all the New Zealand borders to make sure they did not flee the country.

Hollewand would not say how many more were being sought.

"Proper Chinese authorities are aware of the direction of our inquiries," said Hollewand.

Hollewand said members of Wan's family were preparing to travel to New Zealand to claim the body and probably take it back to China but he said they had yet to apply for visas.

Source: Xinhua