Police have confirmed a body found in an area north of Napier at the weekend is missing Hastings man Johnny Wright.
Wright, 50, has been missing since early June.
Police launched a homicide investigation in early August into his disappearance after finding signs of a violent struggle in one of the
Hastings houses where he had been living.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange of Hastings police said a post mortem was completed yesterday and the body, found on Waipunga Rd in Eskdale, was identified as Mr Wright.
Mr de Lange said full post mortem results have yet to be completed, although provisional results indicate Mr Wright died as a result of injuries received from an assault.
He said police were still appealing for information about Mr Wright.
"It's important that we find out as much as we can about how Mr Wright died and who was responsible for his death. Someone in the community will know what took place and for the sake of his family, we need that information," Me de Lange said.
Anyone with information about Mr Wright should contact Hastings police or information can be left anonymously on Crimestoppers, 0800 555 111.
