Anonymous caller key to Kiwi's death in Sydney

Sydney police have released CCTV footage of the man who made the anonymous call. Photo / NSW Police

Sydney police are searching for the man who made an anonymous payphone call to report the alleyway bashing of a New Zealand man who later died of his injuries.

The Triple-0 call was made just before at 12.38am from a public phone on Belmore Rd, near Prince Lane in the Australian city's suburb of Riverwood where Roddy Carino was found unconscious.

Police have release CCTV images of the man and are urging him to come forward as they believe he could be able to assist their investigations, the Daily Mail reported.

They are also looking to talk to another mystery man who walked past the payphone and might be able identify the man.

Roddy Carino was found unconscious in Riverwood. Photo / Facebook

Mr Carino, 21, also known as Roddy Ripley, was found in Price Lane just before 1am on the 23rd. Despite efforts by those at the scene to save him, he later died at St George Hospital. He was reportedly found 100m from home.

Mr Carino's brother, Steven Ripley, said his sibling was a "happy chappie" and was "always smiling".

It reported that Mr Carino was believed to be a painter from New Zealand and had a 3-year-old child.

Friends told the Sydney Morning Herald that he grew up around Riverwood and had moved back into the area in the past two months.

The morning after his brother's death, Mr Ripley performed a haka at the spot he was found.

A friend said the Maori ceremony was planned to "farewell his spirit".

"We say a prayer, sing a song in our language and the men do a haka," the friend told the Sydney Morning Herald. "It's just a cleansing to send him off."

Mr Carino's parents reportedly live in Newcastle and he has extended family in New Zealand.

Circumstances leading up to his death are now under investigation.