A man who has disappeared had just moved into the Glen Innes flat where a prostitute was murdered about New Year's Day.
Kevin James Carter vanished late on Sunday, and police have launched a major inquiry.
The 27-year-old is described as a 178cm-tall, light-skinned Maori with short curly hairand two missing front teeth.
He had phoned his brother from a friend's house in Howick to say he would meet him in 15 minutes, but he never turned up.
A member of the public came across Mr Carter's car at 6 am the next day, unlocked and parked across a workplace entrance in a Panmure industrial estate.
Neighbours at the Maybury St Housing NZ complex said last night that Mr Carter had kept to himself since moving into the one-bedroom flat about two weeks ago.
They said he was the first tenant since Denise Holmes, also aged 27, was suffocated and left on her bed.
A 22-year-old man has been charged with her murder.
Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner - who also led the hunt for Ms Holmes' killer - said Mr Carter's disappearance was being taken seriously.
Twenty officers yesterday searched the disused Winstone's quarry in Mt Wellington near where the car was found, after a sweep by the Eagle helicopter failed to find anything.
Police want to hear from anyone who noticed something suspicious in the Homestead Place or Morrin Rd area where the Mitsubishi Mirage was dumped on Sunday night.
