Police investigating the death of George Taiaroa remain positive and motivated as new public information continues to assist them in tracking a Jeep Cherokee of interest to the inquiry.
Tomorrow (Tuesday, 9 April) it will be three weeks since 67-year-old family man George Taiaroa was shot and killed as he operated a stop-go sign on Tram Road, Atiamuri.
A blue Jeep Cherokee, was seen alongside George when he was shot and that same vehicle was sighted by numerous people as it drove at speed, and erratically, along Tirohanga Road and up through Pureora Forest. Previously its last known location was by the Department of Conservation Office on Barryville Road. Police now believe that the vehicle in question has continued west to south-west from there.
Detective Inspector Tim Anderson said; "We are really heartened by the ongoing support we are receiving from the community. This investigation is a great example of how snippets of seemingly innocuous information from people quite far removed from our scene can help move us forward. As we continue to piece it all together we now believe that the Jeep continued to travel west to south-west and we are particularly keen to hear from people in and around the areas of Benneydale, the Taranaki and Taumarunui.
"We want people in those areas to cast their minds back to the 19th of March and the days that followed, and contact us if they can recall anything that might assist us, no matter how insignificant it might be. Community information is incredibly valuable. It has already provided us with a number of positive lines of enquiry and I believe there is more information out there which will help to complete the picture."
A team of between 30 and 50 officers are involved in the investigation depending on what enquiries are required on any given day.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the investigation team directly on 0800 Kingswood (0800 546 479). Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.