Bay of Plenty police have arrested and charged a 70-year-old Rotorua man with murder over a Turangi homicide 32 years ago.
The man will appear in Rotorua District Court this morning after he was arrested on Friday afternoon.
The man, who has interim name suppression, has been charged with the murder of 32-year-old Rodney Tahu.
Mr Tahu was shot in the head at Turangi Service Station shortly after 1am on Thursday, August 16, 1979. He was taken to Taumarunui Hospital but he died shortly afterwards.
Detective Inspector Mark Loper of Bay of Plenty police said the case has been reviewed periodically over the past 32 years, with the file coming to his desk earlier this year.
"Mr Tahu left behind a wife and two children who have had to grow up without a father. For the past 32 years they have had to grapple with the unresolved circumstances of his death and it's as important for them as it is for us to be able to make this arrest and put the case before the courts.
"We will always do our very best for victims of crime, regardless of the age of the case.''
Mr Loper said Mr Tahu's family had expressed their thanks and relief at the latest developments but asked media to respect their privacy.
Detective Inspector Loper said an unsolved murder case was never closed.
"Files like this always remain open waiting for new information or a situation to change, and we regularly review "cold cases" in a renewed effort to try and solve them.
He said there was still a great deal of work to be done but it was very satisfying to have reached this milestone.
Mr Loper encouraged anyone with information about any historic homicide go to police.
"Relationships and allegiances change over time, and sometimes people just want to get things off their chest. If you have any information about any homicide, especially information not previously disclosed to police, please come forward with what you know.''
