Search for missing Napier man focuses on Te Haroto address

The property at the centre of the investigation for missing Napier man Alex Latimer. Photo / Warren Buckland

Police are focusing their search for missing Napier man Alex Latimer on a property in Te Haroto , a small settlement on State Highway 5.

Latimer, 30, was last seen at the Bayview BP petrol station at 1.25am on Sunday.

His burnt out white Toyota Corolla was found in Omaranui Rd, Puketapu, Napier the same day.

Two men were charged with assault after the police investigation into his disappearance began, and appeared in Hastings District Court today. A 26-year-old and a 24-year-old man, both with interim name suppression, will re-appear in the Hastings District Court, via Audio Visual Link (AVL) on October 25.

A police media release said they would be focusing on a Te Haroto address off State Highway 5, as well as an address in Napier.

The Te Haroto address would be the focus of an extensive search and examination in the coming week.

Police also expect further charges to be laid.

Hawke's Bay Today yesterday visited Te Haroto.

The property that police are searching is about 55km up State Highway 5, colloquially known as the Napier-Taupo Road.

The busy highway is the main route for northbound traffic out of Napier on its way to Auckland, although the rural surrounds are quiet.

Te Haroto is sparsely populated, with a local telling Hawke's Bay Today that most of the houses were empty.

A bright orange "police operation" sign and road cones communicate to motorists to take care as they pass the address, although a local told Hawke's Bay Today police had not informed them directly of what was happening.

Unnerved by the police presence, the local had stayed with family the night before, and said the police presence and search was unusual for the area.

Four or five vehicles were parked at the address with two men in high-visibility vests on guard outside the property.

The police activity appeared to focused on a back paddock at the rear of the property.

Police seemed focused on the back part of the property, where three tents were set up. Photo / Warren Buckland

Next to a pigsty, at least three tents had been erected, two of them fully closed, and one open.

The tents seemed to be the centre of activity, with several people in overalls entering and leaving.

Police confirmed at the scene they had been there for two days.

Mr Latimer was last seen on Sunday, September 30, at the BP Service station at 1.25am.

Missing Napier man Alex Latimer. Photo / Supplied

His white 2000 Toyota Corolla hatchback, registration ZE8110, was located burnt out at 8am in Omaranui Rd, Napier on Monday 1 October.

Police are appealing to the public for any sightings of Mr Latimer's vehicle between Te Haroto and Omaranui Rd, Napier between Sunday and 8am on Monday.

The two men arrested in relation to the case appeared in Hastings District Court today , and were charged with assault.