A man charged with murder after a shooting in Northern Hawke's Bay on Wednesday has been remanded in custody pending a court appearance early next month.
The date was set by a registrar yesterday and followed the death of Blair Philip Herbert Cole, 43, of Wairoa and formerly of Auckland.
With no judge available in Gisborne, the remand in continued custody was set by consent, pending an appearance in the High Court, Gisborne, on November 8.
Police confirmed the accused, 62, is the father of the deceased who was found dead with a gunshot wound. Police were called to a property in the Mohaka area, east of the State Highway 2 township of Raupunga, about 11am on Wednesday.
Locals told Hawke's Bay Today of a community in shock. Community leader Ngaire Culshaw said the arrested man was trying to help his son overcome a drug problem. He had moved to the small community several years ago to look after his ailing mother, who died last year. It is understood Cole was his only son.