Body of missing Upper Hutt man found near Birchville Dam

News from NZ Police
Police were notified about 1.40pm today that a body had been located by a member of the public near the Birchville Dam in Upper Hutt. Formal identification has established the body is that of missing Upper Hutt man Bret Hill.

We extend our sympathies to his family and friends.

Mr Hill’s body was removed this afternoon, and a scene examination was carried out.

His death will be referred to the Coroner.

We thank the members of the public who assisted Police and provided information during the search for Mr Hill.

News from NZ Police – September 20
Police are continuing to appeal for information regarding the missing Upper Hutt man Bret Hill. A number of enquiries are being conducted in order to piece together Bret’s last known movements in order to locate him.

Police have established the last confirmed sighting of Bret was along the Hutt River road, north of Maoribank Duck Pond, on Sunday. There have been no confirmed sightings since then.

We would still like to speak to a couple who were walking their dog and briefly spoke to Bret at about 5.45pm on Sunday, just above the Maoribank swimming hole, as they walked up on to Fergusson Drive.

Police thank Land Search & Rescue New Zealand, and the Upper Hutt Community Rescue for their assistance with the search. We would also like to thank spontaneous community volunteers such as Fire and Emergency New Zealand volunteers and Bret’s family who have searched for him.

Police are continuing to support Bret’s family and continue to urge people in the Brown Owl and Totara Park area to review any CCTV footage from Sunday evening from 5:45pm onwards. If you have any information, please update us online now or call 105. Please use the reference number 240916/4478. If you see Bret, please call 111 and quote the reference number above.

Wellington.Scoop – September 18
Search and rescue teams were working around Upper Hutt today, looking for a man who’s been missing since the weekend.

Bret Hill was last seen at 5.30pm on Sunday on Hillside Drive in Māoribank.

Police are asking local residents to check CCTV and their properties to see if there are signs Hill may have been there – such as a shed left open, or items out of place.

Police want to speak to a couple who were seen having a conversation with him on the day he disappeared. About 5.45pm on Sunday afternoon, he was seen having a short conversation with a couple walking a small dog at the Maoribank Lights intersection, just above the Hutt River. Police want to speak to this couple about the short interaction. If this is you, please contact us.

The man’s son told RNZ the disappearance ‘just doesn’t make sense’.

Trenton Hill, 20, said that police commenced a large search effort after his father had been missing for 48 hours. “They are checking all CCTV in the area, we [have] found a couple of videos of him walking on Fergusson Drive by Māoribank up the top of the hill.” In the videos he was headed towards Totara Park or the nearby duck pond, so they had been focusing their search near there.

Trenton said his father’s car and most of his belongings are still at home.

“[He took] his vape, his phone and a couple [of] smokes, but other than that it is very unusual for him to leave a full pack of smokes at home when he goes off like this.”

Trenton said his dad had just got a new job and had been doing really well for the past three years. He said he had a past of mental health issues, but it had been a long time since he had “an episode”.

“It’s been three years, nearly four years since the last episode, so this coming out of nowhere, just doesn’t make sense.”

Hill said the key locations for the search are Fergusson Drive, Trentham, Silverstream, Totara Park Harcourt Park, Naenae and Taita. If someone saw something of note, people could contact him via his Facebook profile “Trent Bone”.

News from NZ Police – September 17
Police are asking anyone with CCTV in the vicinity of Hillside Drive, Maoribank, to check their security footage for any possible sightings of missing man Bret Hill.

Bret was last seen about 5.30pm on Sunday, on Hillside Drive. He is 195cm tall, of solid build, with black hair and a short white beard. He was last seen wearing black shorts, a dark green t-shirt, a black zip-up hoodie, black jandals and cap.

His disappearance is out of the ordinary.

Police are also asking members of the public to check their own properties, if safe to do so, and call us if there are signs that Mr Hill may have been there.

Members of the public can expect to see an increased Police presence in the area, including Search and Rescue teams.

Police are continuing to support Mr Hill’s family and would like to thank the public for their ongoing support. Bret’s family, and Police, are concerned for his wellbeing.

If you see Bret, please call 111 and quote the reference number 240916/4478.