Police investigating the death of Harold Skudder are focusing their inquiries on interviewing potential witnesses.
Harold Alamoti Taipa Skudder, 38, was reported missing from Lower Hutt by his mother in February 2008. He had not been seen since December 2006 but the police believe his death occurred at the end of January 2007.
Detective Inspector Shane Cotter says the interviews will take a few days, and will include people who know both Harold Skudder and the man accused of his murder.
He says he knows there are people who know what happened with regard to Mr Skudder's disappearance and police are appealing for them to come forward.
Police have completed scene investigations at two locations in the Hutt Valley.
Mr Cotter says it will be at least a week before results of a post-mortem can confirm whether a skeleton found on Friday is that of Mr Skudder.
A 26-year-old man appeared in the Lower Hutt District Court on Friday charged with Mr Skudder's murder and was remanded in custody until 25 March. He was granted temporary name suppression to give his family time to hear the news of his arrest.
