Police name man found dead on Dunedin track

Dunedin police have named the man whose body sparked a homicide investigation when a passer-by found it two days ago.

Renata Ruwhiu, 35, died violently, but police said not suspiciously, near a track in the area known as Scott Memorial, on Blueskin Rd near Port Chalmers.

Following the discovery of Mr Ruwhiu's body, police called the incident a violent homicide, calling for public information about movements of vehicles in the area. Mr Ruwhiu was also known as Jason Renata Cuthbertson, police said.

Shortly after scene examination and some inquiries, police retracted their earlier call, saying the man had still "died violently", but would not reveal how.

"The police. . . until we know the facts, always treat them (as suspicious first)," Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis said.

"You have to treat these things with the utmost seriousness and care until you know that they have a different status."

The matter had been referred to the coroner.

- NZPA