Police investigating the murder of David John Robinson continue to make progress after new leads breathed renewed energy into the investigation.
The homicide investigation was launched on 28 December 1998 after David's body was located on a remote West Coast beach near Ross.
For more than 25 years, the investigation has remained open but unresolved, prompting Police to review the case and, in mid-February this year, undertake further enquires.
Approximately two weeks before David's body was located, mid-morning between 14 and 18 December, a single gunshot was heard by numerous people in the settlement of Kakapotahi.
Since the beginning of the initial investigation, Police have known David was shot once in the head with a .22 calibre firearm.
Detective Inspector Geoff Baber says Police have never located the firearm that was used to murder David.
"As part of the reopened investigation, Police have received a number of .22 firearms from individuals who owned them in the Kakapotahi area in December 1998.
"We are now able to conduct forensic examinations on these firearms so we can rule out any not used in David's murder."
Police would like to hear from anyone else who owned a .22 firearm and was in the Kakapotahi area in 1998, or anyone who knew someone in the wider area who had such a firearm.
