Napier body find could be 'linked' to homicide

A body found in Hastings may be linked to the disappearance of Johnny Wright. Photo / supplied

A body recovered by police in a rural area near Napier could be that of a Hastings man who is the focus of a homicide investigation.

Johnny 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'd been living.

Investigators this morning said a body found in an area of land on Waipunga Rd in Eskdale, north of Napier, may be "linked" to Mr Wright's disappearance.

The area the body was recovered from an area accessible to the public, police said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange said police were given information pointing them to where the body was recovered.

The area was cordoned off and examined by Police and ESR staff at the weekend, he said.

"A number of police staff working on the disappearance of Mr Wright worked at the scene over the weekend. At this stage it is unknown if the body is Mr Wright."

Police upgraded the search for Mr Wright to a homicide investigation in early August, after officers searched two houses in the suburb of Mayfair where he had lived.

An examination showed "some form of violence" may have happened there, he said.

Property belonging to Mr Wright was also found.

Mr de Lange said forensic examinations needed to be completed before the body could be formally identified.

No-one has been arrested over Mr Wright's disappearance.