Anaru Moana was last seen in December 2021. Police believe he was murdered and four people are now standing trial. Photo / Supplied
Anaru Moana was last seen in December 2021. Police believe he was murdered and four people are now standing trial. Photo / Supplied
Anaru Moana was shot out of a tree as he tried to escape his attackers before he was brutally murdered and dumped in a river, a court heard today.
Police say the killing happened hours after he visited his mother in hospice before she died, and that Moana was luredto the bush by an associate.
After being badly bashed, his body was driven around the Waimate area in the boot of a car before it was thrown into the Waitaki River, a court heard. Moana’s remains have never been found.
The Crown allege Anaru Moana was fatally attacked hours after he visited his mother in hospice. Photo / Supplied
Details of the 37-year-old father of two’s last hours were revealed for the first time today in the High Court at Christchurch, where four people are standing trial for his murder.
Hayden Douglas Burt, Aaron Boden and siblings Cody Boyes and Korina Boyes are jointly charged and all deny murder.
Cody Boyes denies murder and is standing trial with three others at the High Court at Christchurch. Photo / George Heard
It is alleged by the Crown that after Moana’s mother Tina died on December 20, 2021, Korina Boyes picked him up and drove him to Kelceys Bush, near Waimate, on the pretence of walking Boyes’ dog together.
Korina Boyes appears in the High Court at Christchurch. Photo / George Heard
There, Burt and Boden were lying in wait, the Crown alleges.
They say when Korina Boyes drove Moana to the bush, Burt and Boden were waiting to hand out his punishment, as months earlier Moana and an associate had allegedly stolen meth and cash totalling around $60,000 from a car in Oamaru belonging to Burt.
The Crown alleges Moana was attacked and climbed a tree to try to escape. Korina Boyes then drove and picked up her brother Cody, and his gun, the court heard.
Hayden Burt denies murdering Anaru Moana. Photo / George Heard
Moana was shot at until he fell from the tree and was then beaten to death, the court heard.
The Crown alleges his body was put into the boot of a car and remained there for the next few hours until the group disposed of it in the river.
Aaron Boden is on trial accused of murder. Photo / George Heard
Moana was reported missing by his family on December 23 and police began investigating.
It later emerged that before Moana was reported missing, a silver Subaru was found burned out on State Highway 1 near the Waihao area.
Police carried out extensive searches in waterways around that location and at other sites in Waitaki and Waimate connected to the car and other evidence.
Police released these photos of Anaru Moana's car after he went missing. Photo / NZ Police
On November 8, 2022, the National Dive Squad began searching waterways near where the burned-out car had been found and a week later Burt and Boden were formally charged.
The Crown alleges Anaru Moana was beaten to death and his body dumped in a river. Photo / Supplied
Cody Boyes was charged in July 2024 and his older sister in March 2025.
All four have pleaded not guilty and their trial before a jury and Justice Christine Gordon began today.
The Crown will continue its opening address tomorrow morning before the defence lawyers are given the opportunity to give any opening remarks.
