Anaru Moana homicide: Charges laid against third man

Anaru Moana. Photo / Supplied

A third man has been arrested and charged in relation to the murder of South Canterbury man Anaru Moana.

The 25-year-old man was arrested at a Waimate address yesterday. He is facing a murder charge.

This follows the arrest of two other men who were arrested and charged in relation to Moana’s murder in December 2022. They both pleaded not guilty.

The 37-year-old was reported missing in December 2021 and extensive inquiries have been carried out since then to locate him.

The investigation for Moana has involved searches of Waitaki and Waimate waterways, with the assistance of the Police National Dive Squad.

The Waitaki search area was close to where a silver Subaru was found burnt-out two days after Anaru’s disappearance in December last year.

This Subaru was set alight early on December 22, 2021, two days after Anaru Moana went missing. Photo / NZ Police

Police earlier confirmed this was a vehicle of interest and have been tracing the movements of those linked to the vehicle between the time Anaru went missing and when the vehicle was disposed of.

Detective Senior Sergeant Nik Leigh said, “While Police have not yet located Mr Moana, it is pleasing to have put people before the courts in relation to his death.

“We know there are people in our community that know what happened to Anaru,” Leigh said.

”We are asking those people – please, it’s time to come forward. Help us provide his whānau with some closure.”