Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Inglis, of Queenstown, confirmed the dead man was 51-year-old Wai Ming Lai, a Hong Kong national who arrived in New Zealand 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 a man had been found unconscious near the Chinese Settlement.
Attempts to resuscitate him by police and ambulance staff were unsuccessful.
Det Snr Sgt Inglis said Mr Lai’s death had been referred to the coroner.
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 appealed to the public for any information, particularly around where Mr Lai had been staying.
