Accused in Whetu killing pleads not guilty

Whetu Teaola Hansen has been missing since November 24.

A man accused of murdering Wanganui man Whetu Hansen has pleaded not guilty.

The accused, 56, who has interim name suppression, appeared in the High Court at Wellington this morning via audio-visual link from Palmerston North.

Justice Robert Dobson remanded the man in custody and ordered him to reappear on August 4 for a case review hearing, where name suppression would be reviewed.

Mr Hansen, 48, was last seen on November 24 last year. After an extensive search lasting several weeks, police found his car at a property in Linton.

Police are still looking for the body of Mr Hansen and his dog Henry.

A friend of Mr Hansen's was in court this morning to see the appearance.

Choking back tears, Wanganui woman Michelle Hina, who was wearing Mr Hansen's Ford keychain around her neck, said she and the family just wanted the body back.

"I just want my friend back. I don't care who did it. I don't care what happened. I just want him resting. That's what we want, the family.

"I've been crying for six months. I miss him so."

She said he was a loving father to two children and a loving grandfather.

"He was supposed to turn 49 in March. I always said to him, 'you'll always be older than me'. Well, this year I got one year closer to his age."