New information on Levin gang case promised

Police search near a burnt out house at Hokio Beach in March. Photo / Cherie Taylor

Police are promising "new information" on the Police Ten 7 show tomorrow nightabout the disappearance of Levin man Palmira Macdonald in March.

Macdonald, 36, was reported to have gang links and was rumoured to have been killed at the time of a house fire at a Hokio Beach near Levin in a confrontation with the Head Hunters gang over methamphetamine.

Police said he was last seen in Levin on March 23 travelling as a passenger in a Silver 1994 Mercedes Benz 320 Saloon.

Local police launched a large investigation into his disappearance, executing a number of search warrants in the Horowhenua area and examining some items of interest which were located.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Baskett, who appears on Police Ten 7 tomorrow, said Macdonald's disappearance was out of character.

"Palmiro regularly kept in contact with his family, so for him to go this long without any contact is not like him at all," he said.

"Throughout the last six months, police staff have been tirelessly working to investigate exactly what has happened to Palmiro and are making good progress.

"However, tomorrow night's show includes some new information which may be the key in helping us find Palmiro, so we urge both the Manawatu community and New Zealanders nationwide to tune in to see if they can help."

The show screens on TV2 at 7.30pm tomorrow.

Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to call the Operation Palm team on 0800 677 256 or provide information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.