A 24-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Edward Tahakura, whose body was found on Otaki Beach last week.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan says they believe the man received lifts between Otaki, Wellington and Tokoroa last week.
He said the man was believed to have been given a lift from Te Horo, south of Otaki, Set up Business in Hong Kong in a red fruit truck to Wellington Ferry Terminal early on September 12.
Later that morning he was picked up in a white truck or ute on Ngauranga Gorge, north of Wellington, and taken to Paraparaumu, before catching a ride to Otaki in a silver car formation of company.
He then caught a ride from Otaki to Palmerston North in an unknown vehicle before getting a ride to Tokoroa in a blue BMW.
Det Snr Sgt Sheridan says the man was a 1.8m tall Maori of medium build with closely shaven black hair.
"It is our understanding that five people have given this man a ride throughout the course of his journey.
"We are very keen to hear from those five people who gave the man a ride and I ask them to contact police as soon as possible Income Tax Hong Kong," says Mr Sheridan.
The accused man appeared in Hamilton District Court last Saturday and is due to reappear next month in the High Court at Palmerston North.
