Dax Holland, the “big guardian of downtown”, was remembered by the Tauranga homeless community at memorials on Thursday. Photo / Supplied
Memorials have been held for a well-known Tauranga homeless man found dead on Saturday.
Police opened a homicide investigation into the death of Dax Rodney Holland after his body was discovered in a secluded area of Wharepai Domain.
The 54-year-old was a long-time member of the local homeless community and known to live in a makeshift camp in the central Tauranga park.
He was a familiar face at various free services for people experiencing homelessness in Tauranga.
Wayne Shadbolt runs one such organisation, The Tūmanako Project, and said he got to know Holland well over the past four years.
He said Holland had attended the service’s Thursday breakfasts at Lifezone Church in Judea consistently since “day one” of them starting.
They often shared “a coffee and a chat”, as Holland did with many people in the Tauranga community, including others living rough.
Holland’s “large number” of connections was evident on Thursday morning when about 50 people gathered at the church to remember the man known as the “big guardian of downtown” in Tauranga.
The memorial brought together people from across the homeless community, with some transported by van so they could attend.
Those gathered shared prayers, songs and karakia and filled a remembrance book with messages reflecting on Holland’s life.
A second memorial was held later in the day at Under the Stars during the organisation’s free lunchtime meal, allowing others who were unable to attend the morning gathering to pay their respects.
Shadbolt said he last saw Holland at last Thursday’s breakfast.
He seemed “pretty much his usual self”, although he had been “a little bit quieter” than usual recently.
Holland had kai and a cup of tea, spent time talking with others and waited around for a free haircut being offered that morning, before being dropped off at “his place of residence”, as Holland called it.
Shadbolt described Holland as a “really nice guy” who was thoughtful and knowledgeable, enjoyed deep conversations and often spoke about philosophy and spirituality.
He could be “quite abrupt at times”, and wasn’t “everyone’s cup of tea”.
Holland loved music and being around whatever was going on, whether it was singing, dancing or pickleball.
Shadbolt said Holland had a background as a chef and often helped out with the cooking.
“He loved community and he loved people,” Shadbolt said.
As a “reasonable-sized man”, people often looked to Holland for support, particularly on the streets.
Shadbolt said people experiencing homelessness remembered Holland as a “straight -up dude”, often speaking about how he checked in on those new to the streets and helped point people in the right direction for support.
“He kept an eye on our homies.”
Shadbolt said it was the second time a homicide had impacted people within the community in the past two years.
He described life on the streets as sometimes dangerous, but said those living rough often looked after one another, forming strong bonds in the face of those risks.
Shadbolt said some in the community were “scared” of homeless people, but “when you get to know them [like with Holland] you see their kind heart”.
Dozens of people have shared memories and condolences for Holland on social media after his death.
Several spoke of him helping people living on the street, and other comments described him as humble and “harmless”.
Some said he was often seen enjoying live music at bars in Tauranga CBD and Mount Maunganui.
A duty manager at Crown & Badger pub on The Strand, who asked not to be identified, told NZME she had known Holland for several years.
She said Holland was a regular visitor to the bar and others in Mount Maunganui on Friday and Saturday nights.
“Dax used to sit outside listening to the music, and was a great singer, and loved talking to the other patrons. He was well-liked by members of the public.
“No matter what happened, no one deserves this.”
A Tauranga security guard, who also would not be named, said he had known Holland for more than five years.
The guard said he never caused any trouble or drew negative attention.
“Dax was a quite kind, humble, and easy-going person. It was quite shocking and sad to learn of his death.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Natalie Flowerdew-Brown said police would like to speak with anyone who had information that could help the investigation into Holland’s death.
“We ask people to contact us if they saw unusual or suspicious behaviour around the Wharepai Domain prior to 2pm on Saturday.”
Anyone with information was asked to contact police online at 105.police.govt.nz, clicking “Update report”, or by calling 105.
Use the reference number 260214/8937.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers, on 0800 555 111.
- Additional reporting by Sandra Conchie.
Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.