Suspect may be in second stolen 4WD

Flowers mark the scene at the side of the road where the body of murdered German tourist Birgit Brauer was found. Ross Land / Getty Images

Police hunting murder suspect Michael Scott Wallace say he may be driving a Nissan Safari 4WD stolen recently from Hokio Beach near Levin.

Operation head Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Coward said today Mr Wallace, the key suspect in the Birgit Brauer homicide case, was last seen in the Levin area and had access to the black and silver, 1988 Safari.

"We have reason to believe Mr Wallace may have access to this vehicle," Mr Coward said.

"It is vital if anyone sees this vehicle and/or Mr Wallace, to please contact their local police immediately."

The vehicle's registration number is XO 9268.

Ms Brauer's body was found in Lucy's Gully north of New Plymouth on September 20 and the police investigation has mainly focused on a Toyota Hilux 4WD which she was previously seen getting into. She had been hitchhiking in the area.

Mr Wallace, 44, had been in possession of a stolen Hilux found abandoned on the banks of the Ohau River near Levin on September 28.

The latest development comes after police went public with the identity of Mr Wallace, who was seen travelling throughout Taranaki in a Hilux around the time of the murder.

There is speculation that he may have gone bush in the South Island.

Mr Coward said there were many calls to police overnight in regard to sightings of Mr Wallace.

"The phones still continue to run hot. Last night we took lots of calls from right around the country," he said.

"There have been sightings in the South Island, Wellington, Napier, and Auckland. We are prioritising the information received and are working towards verifying the different sightings."

Mr Coward said the investigation team was continuing to sort through information received from the various area canvasses in Scott's Ferry and Tangimoana and the greater Horowhenua area.

"I would like to re-emphasise that Mr Wallace could be anywhere in New Zealand, as he is transient by nature," Mr Coward said.

Police are also still searching for a Canon camera which belonged to Ms Brauer, and want to hear about sightings of the Toyota Hilux between September 24 and September 26 when it was last sighted in Tangimoana and abandoned in the Ohau River.

- NZPA