Police have established the man was 51-year-old Wai Ming Lai, a Hong Kong national who arrived in New Zealand from his home country on July 27.
However, most other details about the visitor remain a mystery, including his movements around New Zealand and in Queenstown.
About 9.30am on Saturday, police received reports that a man had been found unconscious in Sawpit Gully near the Chinese Settlement.
Attempts to resuscitate him by police and ambulance staff were unsuccessful.
Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Inglis, of Queenstown, said Mr Lai’s death had been referred to the coroner, but police needed the public’s help to get him home.
Mr Lai was meant to have left New Zealand on October 18.
‘‘We don’t know where he’s been staying, what he does, we don’t know, at this stage, who his next-of-kin are ... to advise them of his death.
‘‘No one’s come forward to report him missing, or not returning to his accommodation.’’
Det Snr Sgt Inglis said appealed to the public for any information, particularly around where Mr Lai had been staying.
While his cause of death was still to be determined, police’s priority is to get Mr Lai back to his family.
Anyone who met Mr Lai, accommodated him, or has any information at all is asked to contact police.
