Police investigating the fatal shooting of a roadworker say they cannot rule out his killing could be a case of mistaken identity.
George Taiaroa, 67, was shot on 19 March on Tram Road in the Kinleith Forest while directing traffic at a bridge near Atiamuri, south east of Tokoroa.
Detective Inspector Tim Anderson said it's one of a number of theories that police are examining.
The hunt for Mr Taiaroa's killer has extended to Taranaki, where police searched a house at Whangamomona for clues.
A number of search warrants have been executed since the investigation began.
