Wellington Homicide Detectives Seek Car Owner
New Zealand Police National News Release
8:29pm 10 July 2006

Police investigating the finding of an unidentified man's body on Wellington's south coast are trying to find the driver of a vehicle who was stuck in the Owhiro Bay beach area about 7pm on Saturday night, 8 July.

Detective Inspector Mike Arnerich, Wellington CIB, said a group of local people have told police of towing out an early to mid 1990s dark coloured four door Subaru Legacy sedan with a boot or similar vehicle that was buried to its bumper.

The tidy vehicle was dark blue or black, had mag wheels, possibly a big bore exhaust and had no tow bar. Attached to the bumper was a sticker with possible references to Te Reo Maori and the importance of 'teaching kids the language'.

People who went to the driver's aid have described him as being in his early to mid 20s, a light skinned Maori or Polynesian (race not confirmed), who was polite, softly spoken and who seemed embarrassed at getting stuck in the beach surface.

The man was wearing a light coloured hoody styled sweatshirt, with an overly large hood. He wore three quarter length trousers, white socks, white shoes and black gloves.

"People often drive through the Owhiro Bay to Red Rocks area and we know that sometimes people lose traction and end up with their wheels buried in the beach surface," Detective Inspector Arnerich said.

"It's important we speak to the driver of the vehicle who was towed out on Saturday night. He may or may not be able to advance our inquiry but we need to find out who he is in case he saw something of interest to us."

Police are following up calls to the 0508 Red Rocks or 0508 722 762 hotline and from area inquiries. Detectives still however want to hear from people who were in the beach area from late on Saturday afternoon through to about 9am on Sunday morning.

People who can help with information are asked to call the hotline number or the inquiry team at Wellington Central Police Station on 04 381 2000.

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