Public coming forward in Piper case

Raymond Piper. Photo / Supplied

Police investigating the killing of Kapiti Coast man Raymond "Son" Piper say they have already received calls from people who say they have seen two cars connected to his death.

Earlier police investigating the death of the Paekakariki man, whose body has not been found, appealed to the public for help with sightings of two cars that were at the Otaihanga Domain between Paraparaumu and Waikanae four weeks before he disappeared.

Witnesses who had seen the two cars had already come forward less than 12 hours after the appeal and police were following up on the sightings, police spokeswoman Kaye Calder said.

"Our initial assessment is there's some good information coming through."

How important the information was would become more apparent as the sightings were investigated, Ms Calder said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Oxnam said the cars seen at the Otaihanga Domain were a red 2006 Holden Commodore SS saloon and a deep red or maroon coloured 1993 Nissan Bluebird saloon.

Police believed both vehicles - and two or more people with them - were parked near a toilet block at the domain some time between 10am and midday on Monday April 19, a month before Mr Piper disappeared.

"We'd like to know more about these cars and who might have been with them. This information could be vital to us as we continue our hunt for the person or people responsible for Raymond's violent death," Mr Oxnam said.

"We can't rule out a connection between the cars, anyone with them, and Raymond's subsequent disappearance," he said. "We don't believe Raymond was at the domain that morning."

Otaihanga Domain is a popular recreational area used by walkers, joggers, cyclists and other members of the public.

Mr Oxnam would not comment on the reason for the cars' presence at the domain or their relevance to the inquiry.

"Police are very pleased with the information we've received from the public so far and we are following up all possible lines of inquiry," he said.

``We know that there are people in the community who can tell us more about what happened to Raymond and where his body might be.'

Police are also still interested in the movements of a dark green Mazda Marvie registration WC9996 that the 23-year-old man was seen in on Saturday May 15, the day he disappeared.

The Mazda, being forensically examined by ESR and police specialists, was known to have been in the Paraparaumu, Kapiti Coast, Horowhenua, Manawatu and Turakina areas, south of Wanganui, between May 15 and May 27.

The vehicle was found at a Turakina property on June 8.