Family plead for information on final moments of Nigel Sammons' life

Mystery still surrounds the death of Nigel Sammons whose body was found by a police in Wairoa. Photo / Supplied.

The family of a man whose death "shocked" the small town of Wairoa are pleading for anyone with information to come forward.

Mystery still surrounds the death of Nigel Sammons, 33, whose body was found by a police patrol at the intersection of Black and Rutherford Sts in Wairoa just before 5am on Sunday.

As police investigations into whether Mr Sammons was killed in a hit and run continue, he is being remembered by his family as a generous man, and loving father, his cousin Carl Anderson said yesterday.

Originally from Te Puke, Mr Sammons had lived in Wairoa since he was a child. In life he was a "provider" who enjoyed hunting and diving, and would often supply his friends and whanau with food.

"He always gave to others, if they had nothing he'd give them something even if he had nothing, he always thought of others before himself," Mr Anderson said.

"He always would take his shirt off his back to give it to others."

The father-of-four had recently finished shearing for the season.

His death notice stated he was the "beloved son" of Gwen, and the late Terrance, and was loved by his many brothers and sisters.

He had also been a loving father to his four children - Jodahcei, Gemahnai, Ivorhee, and Veronika .

When asked how his children were coping, Mr Anderson said: "If you can imagine your dad dying without knowing what happened, that's what they feel like."

Finding out how Mr Sammons died would give his family some closure, Mr Anderson said.

"We don't know what's happened. We... don't know if it was hit and run, and we don't want to jump to conclusions.

"If anyone knows anything, please don't be shy. If they know anything about it please speak up, but don't speak about rumours, it has to be facts, we don't want to be creating animosity."

After seeing the body on Black St on Sunday, Mr Anderson had appealed on social media for anyone with information to come forward - at the time he did not realise it was his cousin.

"When I saw the body on the street I didn't know who it was so I put a status up [saying] 'it's a very sad day in Wairoa today, someone has passed away some brother, some nephew, if anyone knows anything can they hand themselves in', that's what I put up."

When he realised who it was, "it was [hard], I was broken".

Mr Sammons' body lay in state at Tawhiti a Maru marae in Wairoa this week. As he used to help with tangis by providing kai, members of the Wairoa community had banded together to support his family.

Mr Anderson said he would "like to thank the Mongrel Mob in Wairoa ... and all his pig-hunting friends who supported Nigel with food, koha, petrol, and for all their support.

"That's what they have done for him because he did a lot for them."

Wairoa mayor Craig Little said he did not know Mr Sammons' family personally, but paid his condolences to them.

"All I hope is everyone's patient and let the police get on with their work so they can find out what happened," he said. "It has shocked the town a bit, that's for sure."

Mr Sammons' body was taken back to Te Puke yesterday. His funeral would be held at Ngati Moko marae on Saturday, at 11am.

-Police are still appealing for people to come forward who were in the area of Black and Rutherford Sts on Sunday morning, or who have information on a vehicle that may have received damage to the front, been hidden, or repaired in unusual circumstances since Saturday.

-Anyone with information is asked to phone the police on (06) 838 8345 or anonymously via the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.