A man previously charged in relation to a crash near Queenstown last year has had his charge upgraded.

The crash on December 16 2023 happened on Gibbston Valley Highway near the Crown Range turnoff resulting in the death of Outrega Anderson, the head butcher and master charcuterie at Royalburn Station.

Central Otago man Hayden Richard Hurst (28) was initially charged in late January with excess blood alcohol causing death, however police said in a statement today (Friday March 1) that the charge has been upgraded to manslaughter.

Outrega was described by friends as an "old, wise soul, kind, humble, and always the calm in the eye of any storm".

He was in his late 40s and grew up in Southland.

The crash involved two vehicles and Outrega is understood to have died at the scene.

Hayden Hurst is remanded on bail to reappear in the Queenstown District Court on March 11.

PHOTO: Supplied