British homicide investigators will step up their hunt for a man described as "New Zealand's greatest prison escaper" by going on television this week.

Ricardo Pisano, a South African who is also known as Brandon Victor Pillay, walked off while with a work party at Rangipo Prison, near Turangi, in 2001.

He was serving a 15-month sentence for fraud offences.

He was dubbed "New Zealand's greatest prison escaper" by the Waikato Times.

In July this year the body of 62-year-old Michael Polding was discovered in his flat at English seaside town Brighton. It is thought he may have lain dead for two months.

A post-mortem led to police to launch a murder investigation and a 28-year-old man, held on suspicion of his murder, was released last week without charge.

The case will feature on the BBC's Crimewatch programme on Thursday with police saying both men were friends and spent time together before Mr Polding's death.

"We think he (Mr Pisano) may have information about Mr Polding's last movements, however we have been unable to find him so far," Detective Chief Inspector Nick May said.