Urewera body confirmed as 1982 murder victim

Detective Sergeant John Wilson. Photo / Daily Post

A body found near the Urewera National Park by hunters last month has been identified as that of a 1982 murder victim.

Detective Sergeant John Wilson this morning said Coroner Dr Wallace Bain had determined that the body was that of gang member Hemi Tapson, also known as Hemi Ruawai.

Two days ago, police took the man convicted of Mr Tapson's murder to the scene to confirm that was where he had buried the body.

Mr Tapson's family members were also taken into the forest during that trip, where they met the convicted murderer, Mr Wilson said.

DNA testing results are due today, but Dr Bain was able to identify the body without that evidence based on location and other circumstantial evidence.

The body can now be returned to whanau for burial, police said.

Mr Tapson was murdered by Tamiana Tamiana in July 1982. Tamiana admitted the killing in 1997, saying he had confessed because he wanted to be closer to his God.

Tamiana was sentenced to a mandatory life term of imprisonment for cutting Mr Tapson's throat and stabbing him at a Murupara gang house.

- NZHERALD STAFF