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Police investigating the murder of David John Robinson continue to make progress after new leads breathed renewed energy into the investigation.

The homicide investigation was launched on 28 December 1998 after David’s body was located on a remote West Coast beach near Ross.

For more than 25 years, the investigation has remained open but unresolved, prompting Police to review the case and, in mid-February this year, undertake further enquires.

Approximately two weeks before David’s body was located, mid-morning between 14 and 18 December, a single gunshot was heard by numerous people in the settlement of Kakapotahi.

Since the beginning of the initial investigation, Police have known David was shot once in the head with a .22 calibre firearm.

Detective Inspector Geoff Baber says Police have never located the firearm that was used to murder David.

“As part of the reopened investigation, Police have received a number of .22 firearms from individuals who owned them in the Kakapotahi area in December 1998.

“We are now able to conduct forensic examinations on these firearms so we can rule out any not used in David’s murder.”

Police would like to hear from anyone else who owned a .22 firearm and was in the Kakapotahi area in 1998, or anyone who knew someone in the wider area who had such a firearm.

“For the purpose of our investigation, we ask for people to get in touch, let us know who may have these firearms now, and whether Police could take them temporarily for the purpose of conducting a forensic examination.

“We continue to appeal for anyone who may have owned, used, or had seen a green 4×4 vehicle around 1998 in the Kakapotahi area to please contact us.

“It is not too late to provide David’s family with answers – if you know something, we encourage you to come forward and speak with us.”

If you have information that could assist Police’s investigation, please email us via the Cold Case form on the New Zealand Police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221.

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Issued by Police Media Centre

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Police in Tasman are following a new lead believed to be the last sighting of David John Robinson before his execution-style murder in 1998.

The new last sighting, and other new leads, has breathed renewed energy into the 26 year-old investigation.

The homicide investigation was launched on 28 December after 25-year-old David’s body was located on a remote West Coast beach near Ross. The investigation remained open but unresolved, until Police reopened the investigation in mid-February.

And the investigation team has been making progress.

Detective Inspector Geoff Baber says after conducting further interviews and new information coming to light, Police have identified new avenues and opportunities to solve David’s murder.

“We have spoken with a witness who reports they saw David on a street corner at the northern end of Bold Head Road near Kakapotahi, a day before the single reported gunshot was heard through the area between 14 and 18 December.

“They have also reported seeing David in the passenger seat of a green coloured 4×4 vehicle travelling in the settlement hours following the street corner sighting.”

This information is crucial as David’s last movements were never confirmed in the original investigation.

“We now have a better understanding of his whereabouts and can confirm he was in the Kakapotahi area in the lead up to his death,” says Detective Inspector Baber.

Before this new information, the last confirmed sighting of David was in the beginning of November 1998 when he was arrested by Police in Haast for theft.

“We have a responsibility in helping David’s family find the truth behind his death, and this information brings us closer to doing so.

“If you know who may have owned or drove a green coloured 4×4 vehicle around 1998 in the Kakapotahi and Ross areas, please do not hesitate to contact the investigation team.”

It is not too late to provide David’s family with answers – if you know something, we encourage you to come forward and speak with us.

If you have information that could help Police’s investigation, please email us via the Cold Case form on the New Zealand Police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221.

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Issued by Police Media Centre

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Nelson Police are appealing for information following a serious crash on SH6/Queen Elizabeth II Drive on Wednesday 12 February.

Emergency services were notified of the two-vehicle crash at around 11.30am near Atawhai Drive.

One person was transported to hospital with critical injuries, where they remain in a serious condition.

Police would like to hear from anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage of the crash or the events leading up the crash – specifically footage between Marybank Road and Atawhai Drive near the Wakapuaka Cemetery.

Anyone with information that may assist Police in our enquiries is urged to contact us online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update Report”, or by calling 105.

Please use the reference number 250212/4470.

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Please attribute to Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Dye, Tasman District Organised Crime Group.

Police have arrested three men in relation to the cultivation and sale of cannabis.

One local man was arrested in Picton yesterday and two other men were located and arrested in Auckland.

The man arrested in Picton was caught as he walked off the Interislander Ferry. Police located his suitcase which was full of vacuum-packed cannabis packages. A search of his Picton address located over $12,000 in cash. He also had a BB gun resembling a Glock pistol and a small amount of Class B drug MDMA. 

He appeared in the Blenheim District Court today on a charge of possession of cannabis for supply.

The two men arrested in Auckland are Vietnamese nationals believed to be part of an organised crime syndicate, one of whom was in New Zealand illegally.

The men had just delivered a suitcase full of cannabis to Wellington, when they were arrested. They appeared in the Auckland District Court today and their bail was opposed.

All three men are all aged in their 20s.

Enquiries are ongoing and Police cannot rule-out the possibility of further arrests.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dye says the arrests come as a result of an investigation that has spanned Tāmaki  Makaurau, Wellington and Tasman which targeted an opportunist profit-driven business.

We believe that these Vietnamese men are working with others cultivating and dealing cannabis in Auckland rental properties. This type of activity is linked to organised crime groups and cannabis is a large source of income for their illegal operations.

Often the properties used by these groups will appear innocent and will not attract the attention of neighbours.

“These individuals are significantly modifying rental properties to cultivate cannabis and often with risky electrical installations.”

“This type of activity is dangerous and creates a significant fire risk. Often electricity is being stolen to run these grow operations.”

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR

Police are reminding landlords to be vigilant when renting out their properties:

• Ensure there are regular property inspections.
• Carry out thorough vetting: get two forms of photo ID and sight the original documents.
• It’s important for the community to remain vigilant as well. If you see suspicious activity, such as large deliveries of fertilizer bags being dropped off without any corresponding gardening occurring, or signs that an electricity meter has been tampered with, please contact Police.
• Report any information you have by calling 105 or go online to make a report at www.police.govt.nz/use-105
• You can also contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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A bone located in the Otira area last year has been identified as belonging to a person who is believed to have gone missing in 2020.

On 18 January 2024, a member of the public contacted Police after finding a bone in the Otira area.

The bone has since been examined by a Pathologist, Anthropologist, and ESR scientists as we worked to identify the age of the bone and who it belonged to.

Following the examination by ESR Scientists the bone has now been confirmed as further remains of missing person Marni Sheppeard, who was last heard from in November 2020.

In 2021, Marni’s partial remains were located in the Rolleston River area following an extensive search involving LandSAR volunteers and Police, two CanyonSar teams, Alpine Cliff Rescue, two police dog units and a LandSAR dog team which were deployed into the area by Precision Helicopters.

Police have since spoken with Marni’s mother and informed her of the finding.

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Issued by Police Media Centre

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Police are reviewing new information about the 26-year-old murder of David John Robinson after canvassing the small West Coast settlement of Kakapotahi.

Detective Inspector Geoff Baber says after re-interviewing individuals in mid-February, new information and lines of enquiry had come to light.

“The dedicated investigation team based in Hokitika Police Station, are following these new leads, and are interviewing new people now located across the West Coast and some other parts of the South Island.”

The initial homicide investigation was launched on 28 December 1998, after the body of David was located on a remote West Coast beach near Ross, where it had laid for up to two weeks.

Cold cases like David’s murder are periodically reviewed with the aim of identifying opportunities to solve them and bring closure to loved ones, says Detective Inspector Baber.

“Our goal is to get justice for David, and answers for his family.”

It has been reported that a single gunshot was heard by a number of people in the Kakapotahi settlement between 14 and 18 December around 10am and 10:30am – approximately two weeks before David’s body was located about 3 kilometres away.

“There has been no explanation to date as to what that single gunshot was.

“If you know something, we encourage you to come forward and speak to us.”

If you have information that could help Police’s investigation, please email us via the Cold Case form on the New Zealand Police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221.

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Issued by Police Media Centre

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More than 26 years after the murder of David John Robinson, Tasman Police have reopened the investigation into his death, with enquiries under way in the small West Coast town of Kakapotahi.

A homicide investigation was launched on 28 December 1998, after the body of the then-25-year-old David was located on a remote West Coast beach near Ross.

Detective Inspector Geoff Baber of the Tasman District Police says David was killed approximately 10 days before the discovery of his body.

The initial Police investigation located several of David’s possessions scattered across the beach, indicating he had likely been staying in the area before he died.

After extensive enquiries at the time of his death – including interviewing a number of people within the community and conducting searches of nearby beach, bush and river areas – the investigation was scaled back.

“The investigation has been periodically reviewed and police continue to make additional enquiries over the years.

“I want David’s family and the community to know we will not give up – Police are determined to find out what happened in this small rural community, shortly before Christmas over 26 years ago.”

Police have been canvasing the Kakapotahi area this week and enquiries will continue in the coming days and weeks.

“David would have been 51 now, and while his murder was nearly three decades ago his family continue to grieve.

“We know people may not have wanted to previously tell us what they saw or heard, but the passing of time may have changed things for them, and they may see things differently now with regards to David and what happened to him.

“If you do know something, we encourage you to come forward and speak to us – it is not too late to provide David’s family with answers.”

If you have information that could help Police’s investigation, please email us via the Cold Case form on the New Zealand Police website, or call 105 and reference the case number 231129/2221.

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Issued by the Police Media Centre

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olice can now release the name of the man who died following a crash in Glenross on 29 March.

He was 32-year-old Robert Douglas Ralston, from Wakari, Dunedin.

Our thoughts remain with those close to him at this difficult time.

A 31-year-old man is due to reappear in the Dunedin District Court on 6 May facing a charge of manslaughter.

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Police can now release the name of person who died following a crash in Owaka, Clutha on Sunday 23 March.

He was 7-year-old O’siah Prasad, of Fairfield, Dunedin.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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Issued by Police Media Centre