Police have confirmed the body found in an area north of Napier at the weekend is missing Hastings man Johnny Wright.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange of Hastings police said a post mortem was completed yesterday and the body was identified as Mr Wright.
Full post mortem results have yet to be finalised, although provisional results indicate Mr Wright died as a result of injuries received from an assault.
Mr de Lange said police were still appealing for information about Mr Wright.
"It's important that we find out as much as we can about how Mr Wright died and who was responsible for his death. Someone in the community will know what took place and for the sake of his family, we need that information," he said.
Anyone with information about Mr Wright should contact Hastings police or information can be left anonymously on Crimestoppers, 0800 555 111.
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