Police say the person responsible for the murder of a family man and road worker near Tokoroa has local knowledge of the area.
Police told a press conference today they had tracked where a blue 4WD, which fled the scene, had gone shortly after the fatal shooting of Hamilton man George Taiaroa.
The shooting happened on Tuesday at 3.15pm on Tram Rd, a short stretch of rural road in the Kinleith Forest area which bridges the Waikato River.
Detective Inspector Mark Loper said they now wanted more information from the public to try and locate the vehicle, which may be a Jeep Cherokee.
"It has moved through the bush, through the web of road ways and forestries and has come out onto the roadway which runs between Benneydale and Mangakino. From there we are trying to track it."
Mr Loper said it seemed the offender must have had some local knowledge of the area.
"We really want to hear from anybody that may have seen that vehicle. In fact, we want to go a bit further we want to know anyone that suspects they know who this person is that has a blue vehicle."
Police have set up an 0800 number for people to ring, who might have information.
The number is 0800 Kingswood or 0800 546 479. All calls will be treated in confidence.
Alternatively information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
As part of their investigation today the Police National Dive Squad were also searching the Waikato River near where Mr Taiaroa was shot.
Police said they were not necessarily looking for anything specific but were doing the search as part of a scene examination.