Kiwi killed in Vanuatu farewelled at memorial

Hanz Christian. Photo / Facebook.

A New Zealand grandfather who died after he tried to stop a violent assault in Vanuatu has been farewelled by the community he loved so much.

Hanz Christian, 65, suffered fatal head injuries after intervening in an argument between a female friend and her boyfriend outside local nightclub Planet 107 on June 29.

His family say it was just like him to act selflessly and try to help.

Speaking from a packed memorial service in Port Vila this evening, Mr Christian's sister Selma Charlie said the family had been overwhelmed by support from locals.

"Just the amount of love in the room in there is outstanding. The good words just kept rolling and rolling and rolling. He was loved by many.

"It's just unbelievable how much good will we've had."

Mr Christian's niece Hayly Darlow said it was going to be difficult getting enough money together to get his body back to New Zealand but locals had pitched in to help.

New Zealand aeroplane operator Peter Vincent Aviation had also flown the family from New Zealand to Vanuatu free of charge.

Ms Darlow said Vanuatu was her uncle's idea of paradise.

"He had amazing friends around him. Just the amount of love in this community for him is crazy. They're all devastated."

Ms Darlow said the family was trying not to dwell on how he died.

"That's not what uncle Hanz would have wanted. There's nothing to be done now so we celebrate him for who he was, not what happened to him."

Mr Christian's body would be returned to New Zealand on Friday and taken to Whangapoua on the Coromandel Peninsula, where the former navy diver would be cremated.

Police in Vanuatu have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with the incident. He remains in custody while the investigation continues.