Police step up hunt for ute

Police are intensifying their hunt for the hit-and-run killer of North Shore doctor Graham Robinson, who was knocked off his bicycle a week ago near Helensville.

More than 20 police have been called in from around Rodney District for vehicle checkpoints and other efforts to track down the driver of a white or cream-coloured Toyota Hi-lux ute which hit Dr Robinson while he was training for a charity ride on Peak Rd last Wednesday morning.

Detectives have spoken to owners of several Hilux utes, and ruled them out but are combing through the Transport Agency's vehicle registry for more suspects.

Orewa CIB member Detective Mark Palma said a core of about eight officers had been involved in the case so far, but others had been called in to seek more information from the public at checkpoints police began setting up around the Helensville and Kumeu districts yesterday.

Although his team was receiving information "constantly" from the public, there had yet to be any significant breakthrough, and today's efforts would be timed to jog memories.

Dr Robinson, 62, was thrown over the handlebars of his bike on a straight, downhill stretch of Peak Rd as the ute - probably a 1980s or 1990s model - sped off towards Kumeu. He died in hospital on Thursday night and was farewelled at his funeral yesterday by hundreds of mourners, who filled Albany's North Harbour Chapel to overflowing for a service followed by a private cremation attended by his family.

The family asked mourners to make donations in lieu of flowers to the Heart Foundation charity ride for which he was training.

A webpage set up in his name at www.heartracer.org.nz had by last night attracted donations of $7671.

Mr Palma said that although the suspect ute had a fibreglass canopy when Dr Robinson was struck by it, people should bear in mind that the canopy may have been removed.

He said the doctor accompanying Dr Robinson reported being passed by the speeding vehicle before seeing it cut in on the dead man, even though there was plenty of room to avoid him and about 100m of clear road ahead.