Police have taken a 52-year-old man into custody and charged him with the murder of John Murray Morton, whose body was found on a boat earlier in the month.
Mr Morton's body, which police said showed signs of being on the receiving end of a "very violent attack", was discovered in the back of a vessel at the Nelson Haven on August 4.
They say the man who allegedly inflicted the fatal injuries was known to Mr Morton. He is set to appear at Nelson District Court on Monday, August 22.
Detective Inspector Paul Borrell said detectives had been brought in from Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill to aid in the investigation.
He said a team had been working with fingerprint experts, analysts and forensic scientists on the enquiry for more than two weeks in an effort to identify the person responsible for Mr Morton's death.
"Thorough investigation [and] attention to detail, along with the use of a variety of investigative techniques, have brought us to this important milestone in this investigation," Det Insp Borrell said.
"We are and remain absolutely committed to keeping our communities safe and will make every effort to bring persons who choose to commit such serious crimes against others to account."
Det Insp Borrell took a moment to thank members of the public, who were an important part of the investigation.
"As result of this support, valuable information critical to our enquiry has been received which included information provided anonymously to police," he said.
Police are encouraging people who provided information about the alleged offender to contact Nelson police on (03) 546 3895.
Newshub.
