Police say they are making "strong progress" in the investigation into the homicide of Tāngarākau man Adrian Humphreys.
The vehicle of Tāngarākau homicide victim Adrian Humphreys' pulls into BP Taumaranui service station on 6 May. Photo: Supplied / Police
Humphreys was found dead on 7 May at a remote campground in Tāngarākau, about 50 kilometres south west of Taumarunui in early May.
Police say they have a clear understanding of what occurred and believe those involved in his death have told others about what happened.
"Locals will have noticed that the police national dive squad and specialist search teams have been in the area recently," detective senior sergeant Gerard Bouterey said.
"And while I can't disclose what they were tasked with searching for, what I can say is we are making strong progress and we now have a clear understanding of what occurred."
Police continue to update Humphrey's family.
"This is a large burden to bear, and we encourage those holding this information to come forward and speak with us," Bouterey said.
Humphrey's sister Taresa said her brother embraced life to the full in all that he did.
"He was a very kind and caring person who would always put others first.
"This has been a very distressing and difficult time for the family not knowing who did this and why this awful act occurred to Adrian in such a remote and we thought safe country," she said in a statement.
The family wants anyone who may know what happened or who saw something, no matter how small, to contact the police.
"We beg you to come forward and contact the police as a matter of urgency, so that other families do not go through what we have.
"Hopefully preventing this from happening again and that Adrian did not die in vain without getting justice."