Two arrested after body found in caravan

Two men have been arrested after the body of 46-year-old man was found in a caravan on the East Coast settlement of Te Araroa, 172km north of Gisborne.

Detective Inspector Sam Abrahama said the two men, aged 53 and 37 had been charged with assault and would appear in Gisborne District Court tomorrow.

Police launched a homicide inquiry after a local resident found Kevin Collier's body in his caravan on Friday afternoon.

Detective Inspector Sam Aberahama said police had seized a white 1994 Toyota Hilux and were appealing for any sightings of the vehicle and of Mr Collier in Ruatoria, Tikitiki or Te Araroa between 5pm Thursday and 12.30pm Friday.

Police are today continuing to examine the scene.

Bill Martin, who runs the local holiday park, said the death was a shock to the small community, with a population of "a few hundred". Everyone knew everyone else, "if not by name, then by face".

Martin said the local rumour mill was going wild, as police swarmed over the property where the body was found.

Police were speaking to neighbours and family members to try to trace the man's movements, but it was believed he died around 24 hours before his body was found. It appeared he was living alone in a caravan, only a few hundred metres from the rural township's local store.

He used to collect his mail there, said a staff member who wished to remain anonymous.

"He had no known address, he was a bit of a wanderer," she said.

"He seemed like an all right guy."

She said the victim had lots of family in the area, and used to sometimes sleep under a tarpaulin shelter he set up at his father's beachside property.

The dead man had moved back to the area in the last year, after being away for some time, she said.

A post-mortem examination is to be conducted in Auckland today, while police trace the man's family.

- Additional reporting by NZPA