A 45-year-old man from Stratford has been charged with the murder of George Taiaroa in Atiamuri in 2013.
He was arrested without incident at an address in Stratford this morning and will appear at New Plymouth District Court tomorrow (Thursday, 19 November).
Detective Superintendent Tim Anderson said: “I’ve stated on a number of occasions in the last couple of years that the passing of time doesn’t lower our resolve; it just increases our determination. The professionalism and commitment of the team investigating Mr Taiaroa’s death has not wavered for a second, and it is their determination and attention to detail that has got us to this point.
“There is still a great deal of work ahead of us as we enter into another significant phase in the investigation, and to protect the integrity of those legal proceedings it’s not appropriate for me to elaborate further on today’s development.
“I would like to acknowledge Mr Taiaroa’s whānau. They have been kept informed regularly and they have shown great patience, strength and dignity throughout. I would also like to acknowledge members of the community who have assisted us throughout this lengthy investigation.”
Mr Taiaroa’s family ask that the media respect their privacy at this time.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.
