Missing man's body found

NO SIGN: Sergeant Craig Burrows (Kamo) Constable Tony Harris (Auckland) and cadaver dog Phoenix were part of an unsuccessful search for Kimble Moore's body off Duncan Road in March. PHOTO/PETER DE GRAAF

A body found in a bush south-east of Kaitaia on Thursday has been confirmed as that of 48-year-old Waipapakauri man Kimble Moore, who was reported missing on March 18.

Identification was confirmed on Friday after a post mortem examination in Auckland.

The search for Mr Moore, a patched member of the Tribesmen Motorcycle Club, was upgraded to homicide last month.

Detective Senior Sergeant Rhys Johnston said it was believed that the body may have been at the location, several hundred metres off Duncan Road, on the Fairburn side of the summit for some time, and preserving potential evidence had been a methodical process.

The specialist search team had been supported by a pathologist, several ESR scientists from Auckland and cadaver dogs.

The focus was now on bringing the person or persons responsible for Mr Moore's death to justice.

Mr Moore was last seen in the company of fellow Tribesmen gang member Rawden Yates, who was arrested on unrelated charges after a three-week manhunt.

His brother Gary is the subject of a second, unrelated homicide inquiry.

His body was found at his home in Otara on July 31.

Their mother, Erana Moore (Ngati Kahu), said that Kimble, the eldest of seven siblings, had moved to Kaitaia three years ago after a stint in prison, and had hoped to open a butchery in the Far North.

He grew up in Mangere and was a butcher by trade, but had been involved with gangs since the age of 18.

The family had heard many stories about what had happened to her son, she said, including that he had been "cut up and put here and there," but until Thursday there had been no evidence that could prove where he was or who might be responsible.