Wellington, Jan 4 NZPA - Relatives of a missing Queenstown man are distraught at media speculation he faked his own death.

Matthew Alexander Hamill, 60, worked as a manager at Arrowtown's Millbrook resort before he disappeared in the Kawarau Gorge, between Queenstown and Cromwell, on October 29, 2008.

The Herald on Sunday yesterday suggested police had not ruled out the possibility Mr Hamill had faked his own death.

But Detective Sergeant Grahme Bartlett said yesterday that such a suggestion was in "poor taste".

"There's nothing that's been suggested by the police Mr Hamill faked his death," he told the Otago Daily Times.

He said the report was distressing to the large family throughout the country and he had been dealing with calls from distraught relatives.

Millbrook general manager David Onions also dismissed the speculation.

There was "absolutely nothing" to suggest Mr Hamill was alive, he said.

"The family consider Matthew missing presumed dead and they don't want to reopen the whole matter. The conjecture seems to be because no body was found, but the reality is they don't always appear."

Mr Hamill's case was set down for an inquest next month but police could not confirm to the coroner that death occurred because no body had been found.

Mr Hamill's silver Mitsubishi Diamante sedan, registration BTF577, was found unlocked at the Roaring Meg power station lookout. A note in the car indicated he planned to take his own life and some of his personal items were found by the riverbank.

His body was not recovered despite an extensive river and aerial search.

There had been no activity in his bank accounts since the time of his disappearance.