Kaitāia homicide: Community in shock after death of Far North business leader Monty Knight

Kaitāia businessman Monty Knight is being remembered for his contribution to the community.

The Far North community is shocked and saddened after the death of a well-known Kaitāia business man, Monty Knight.

Knight died on Sunday following reports of an assault and a 57-year-old woman has since been charged with murder.

Knight was a stalwart of the Kaitāia community, who was the director of Knights the Jewellers and Okahu Estate winery.

He was also a former councillor with both Far North District Council and Northland Regional Council.

On Sunday, emergency services were called to an Okahu Rd address about 12.35pm, where a man was found with critical injuries.

Despite the best efforts from emergency services, he died at the scene.

Acting Detective Inspector Tania Jellyman, from Northland CIB, said police arrested a woman at a separate address on Sunday afternoon and she has since been charged with murder.

“Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to this matter,” she said.

“A scene examination is continuing and a post-mortem examination will be carried out in the coming days.”

The 57-year-old woman will appear in Kaitāia District Court today.

Former Far North mayor John Carter described Knight as a “dear friend”.

“He’s an amazing community person. He’s a very successful businessman who has contributed an incredible amount to the community in which he lived.

“He is certainly one of the people that everybody knows and the community will miss him badly.”

Carter said Kaitāia will not be the same place without him.

“I’m still in shock - I just can’t get over it.”

The feeling of shock was echoed by Colin “Toss” Kitchen, another Kaitāia community leader who served two terms with Knight on the Far North District Council.

“He was a community icon in Kaitāia, a business leader and people’s person.

“He has done so much for the community of Kaitāia and indeed for Northland - and the wine industry and local tourism - there’s just so much that he’s done.”

Kitchen said Knight was generous, not just with money but with sound advice, and he always had an open-door policy.

While details of Knights farewell are still being worked out, Kitchen said he expected the Kaitāia community to get involved.

“Monty’s farewell celebration, I think, is going to be massive. He touched so many people’s hearts.”

Kitchen said he knew the woman who has been charged with murder and said he saw no red flags in her behaviour.

He offered his condolences to all the emergency services staff who attended the incident on Sunday, including Kaitāia Volunteer Fire Brigade, who did their best to revive Knight to no avail.

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.