A man who went missing from a rest home on Thursday has been found dead some 22km away.
Mourners described Peter Tangira, sometimes called Pita, as a "sweet" and "incredible" man.
Mr Tangira, 64, who suffered from Alzheimer's and diabetes, disappeared from Brookhaven Rest Home in Ferrymead, Christchurch.
Despite search efforts and public appeals, he was not found until this morning. The 192cm tall man was thought to have walked barefoot across the city to Brooklands.
He was last seen at about 6pm on Thursday.
Police were not yet sure how Mr Tangira got to Brooklands, the city's northernmost suburb. But Mr Tangira was fond of walking and police said he could have easily walked that far since he went missing.
Some of the people who knew Mr Tangira voiced their sadness on Facebook.
"R.I.P Peter...you were such a sweet man to take care of," one wrote.
"Such a huge loss, an incredible man," another posted.
Police earlier said Mr Tangira was probably barefoot when he went missing. Mr Tangira was fit but had Alzheimer's disease and was a type 2 diabetic.
He was not dependent on medication but was at risk of low blood sugar levels when he did not eat.
A police spokeswoman said Mr Tangira's death was not being treated as suspicious but the Coroner would determine how the 64 year-old died.
A Brookhaven Rest Home manager said Mr Tangira had been able to come or go from the home as he pleased.
Police said Mr Tangira's relatives had been informed and offered the services of Victim Support.
Canterbury Police spokeswoman Lisa-Marie Brooks said many members of the public joined police in searching for Mr Tangira.
Police said they were grateful for the public's help in trying to find Mr Tangira.