Portobello remains identified as missing Otago man Murray Wakefield, who went missing a year ago

Murray Allan Wakefield was reported missing near Port Chalmers last year. Photo / New Zealand Police

Human skeletal remains found on the Portobello coastline in March have been identified as those of a man reported missing from the area last year, police say.

Portobello is a small settlement on the Otago Peninsula, about 15km east of central Dunedin.

Police said officers were notified on March 23
after a member of the public discovered skeletal remains at low tide on the Portobello coastline.

Inquiries subsequently confirmed the remains were human.

Police carried out a scene examination and made a number of enquiries on behalf of the coroner to establish the person’s identity.