The police in Napier have identified the body of a man found under a bridge on State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupo.
Motorists who stopped for a break near the Mohaka river bridge on Tuesday afternoon say they saw a man lying on the riverbed.
A family member contacted the police on Wednesday and identified the man as 35-year-old Robert Potiki from Hastings.
The police have established that he was travelling with a female companion towards Napier on Saturday evening. They understand that at one stage the couple argued and Mr Potiki left the vehicle and began walking along the highway..
Detective Senior Sergeant Nick Reid says the case is being treated as an unexplained death rather than a homicide.
