The skeletal remains found near the Fitzgerald Glade are those of a 28-year-old Tirau man who disappeared 20 years ago after a row with his girlfriend in Rotorua.
The remains of George Henry Slater, known as Jimmy, were found in a crashed car at the bottom of a steep hill off State Highway 5, on Wednesday.
Mr Slater was officially declared dead seven years after going missing in February 1985 when driving home from a Rotorua party.
The apiary worker, who was single but had two young daughters, left Rotorua in bad weather about 9.30pm.
Police believe Mr Slater had had a row with his girlfriend in Rotorua and during the drive home his car left the road and crashed through bush into a tree in stormy conditions.
They confirmed the scene was consistent with a high speed car crash but the cause at this stage was unknown.
The car and Mr Slaters skeletal remains were found by pig hunter Keith Davis in bush on the northwestern side of State Highway 5, several kilometres east of Fitzgerald Glade on the edge of the Mamaku Ranges.
Detective Sergeant Kevan Verry, of Tokoroa police, said they had been contacted by family members of the man who told police when and where the man was thought to have gone missing.
He said it did not appear to be a suspicious death.
The Mark III Cortina had wrapped itself around a tree and was badly damaged.
Mr Verry said the skeleton was hanging out of the car.
The information about the missing man came from the number plate on the vehicle and from information from his family.
"We no longer seek any names of missing persons and at this stage the police are working with the family of the missing person and will be conducting a post mortem ."
Meanwhile, Auckland woman Leigh Kingi said she had hoped the remains were her father's, Phillip Kingi from Mangere, who went missing on December 14, 2005.
Miss Kingi rang Tokoroa police yesterday but was told her father's disappearance was too recent.
She said she believed her father was dead but wanted to find his body for closure.
Mr Kingi went missing on the drive between Rotorua and Auckland.
The main highway had been thoroughly searched.
"We had our hopes up for a little while ... back to the drawing board now.
"I hope it doesn't take 20 years for my father to be found."
Body find ends 22-year-old mystery
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