A tapu has been lifted and the area blessed where the body of Czech national Dagmar (Dasha) Pytlickova was found last month at Waihaorunga, south of Waimate.
A ceremony involving representatives of the Waihao rununga from the Morven marae and a minister from the local parish was held about noon on Thursday in a forestry area where Miss Pytlickova's body was found near that of the man believed to have killed her, Jason Frandi, of Waimate.
Canterbury police communications manager Stephen Hill said yesterday no family members were at the ceremony.
Miss Pytlickova went missing while hitch-hiking between Cromwell and Timaru on May 26. She was picked up by Frandi somewhere between Omarama and Kurow, taken to the forestry block off Pentland Hills Rd and murdered later that day.
The bodies of Miss Pytlickova and Frandi were found the following day by motorcyclists on a fundraising trail ride for the Waimate Main School.
Miss Pytlickova had injuries to her neck and Frandi to his left wrist.
At the peak of inquiries, more than 20 police were involved.
Mr Hill said a small team of investigators based in Timaru continued to work on the inquiry.
That was expected to continue for some weeks before the file was forwarded to the Coroner, who would make a determination on the deaths.
The ceremony on Thursday took place after a light overnight snowfall, at the small clearing in the forested area where Miss Pytlickova was found.
It combined elements of recognising the tragic events that had occurred there, lifting the tapu and blessing the area.
Members of the police investigation team attended the ceremony, along with representatives from Blakeley Pacific Forestry, owners of the property, and the two adjacent landowners who laid flowers for Miss Pytlickova on behalf of the local community.
Inquiries into the deaths of Miss Pytlickova and Frandi were still focused on establishing their respective movements on the afternoon of Saturday, May 26.
Head of the investigation Detective Senior Sergeant Marion Neill said no further confirmed sightings of either Miss Pytlickova or Frandi had been received this week, and police were continuing to appeal for information or sightings.
A significant number of participants in the Waimate Main School charity trail bike ride had now been interviewed, information gathered from members of the public and from acquaintances of both Miss Pytlickova and Frandi, she said.
