Intensity of vehicle fire hampers formal identification process

Police now believe they know who the victim of a fire in a vehicle near Kaikoura may be and have informed the next of kin.

However, because of the intensity of the fire formal identification of the body will be difficult and time consuming will and require a number of forensic processes.

The body was today taken to Christchurch for a post mortem and the preliminary results of that are expected late tomorrow.

A scene guard remains in place overnight and Police expect to complete the scene examination tomorrow, at which time the vehicle will be removed.

Detective Inspector Geoff Jago said Police were starting to get a picture of what had happened. He said it was believed there was a single occupant in the vehicle who had been camping at the Kiwa Road location for the past few days.

Police will continue to make enquiries on behalf of the Coroner to determine the cause of the fire and formally identify the victim.