The owner of an Auckland property where human remains were found last week encased in concrete, also previously owned a house and section at Blackball.
According to the New Zealand Herald the death was considered suspicious.
A DNA comparison will be needed to identify the human bones found at an Auckland house, police say.
The bones found last Friday, under 3 Marlborough St, Mt Eden, were confirmed as human on Monday by a forensic pathologist.
David Stanley Hart owned the Auckland property where the concrete-encased body was found, as well as an old property in Blackball.
With rates owing on the Stafford St property, and unable to contact Mr Hart in recent years, the Grey District Council recently put the now-vacant section out to tender.
Former Blackball man Neville Sheehan was an acquaintance of Mr Hart and looked after the property for the absentee owner.
Mr Hart used to visit Blackball with his brother to go gold prospecting.
‘‘David was eccentric and very intelligent. I haven’t seen him for years since he and his brother had a big fight and left.’’
He had returned to Blackball a couple times after that but Mr Sheehan never saw him again.
‘‘I spoke to him a couple of times on the telephone, but the last time I saw him would have been 20-odd years ago.’’
Mr Sheehan ran a few sheep on Mr Hart’s Stafford St property, until the council put a sewerage line in and wrecked the fences he had installed.
Mr Hart, who would now be in his 80s, often travelled to Australia to prospect for gold.
In November 2018, the Grey District Council sought Mr Hart in relation to his Blackball property.
The Greymouth Star also understands a private detective has been in contact with Blackball people looking for him.
His dilapidated house was demolished about five years ago, apparently as it was a health risk, and the section was recently sold by the council at tender.
Property records show 24 Stafford St is still owned by Mr Hart.
Mr Hart’s wife had previously told someone interested in buying the property that he was too sick with throat cancer to speak.
His Auckland neighbours told the Herald that Mr Hart was a ‘‘recluse’’ who went missing abruptly at least a decade ago.
As the matter is now a police investigation, the Grey District Council has been advised by police not to give out information.
-Additionally reported by Viv Logie
