Man pleads not guilty to murder charge

The scene of the shooting death. Photo / Gisborne Herald

The man accused of shooting 50-year-old Tumanako Tauhore at Te Araroa on Monday night appeared in Gisborne District Court this morning.

Roderick Bully Cooper, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder. No name suppression was sought or ordered.

The Crown did not oppose bail, which was granted with conditions that he live at a particular address, has a 24-hour curfew and is not to associate with named people.

He was required to surrender his passport, which was handed to Te Aroroa police last night.

He was represented by Hawke's Bay barrister Eric Forster.

Cooper's next appearance will be in the High Court at Gisborne for a case review hearing on April 30.

Police meanwhile expect Black Power gang members from around the country to begin gathering in the region from today for Mr Tauhore's tangi.

Police have stressed the incident was not gang-related, despite Mr Tauhore's Black Power connections.

Detectives and ESR scientists expect to complete their detailed scene examination today at the location where 50-year-old Mr Tauhore was shot, in a paddock on a property alongside SH35 north of Te Araroa.

A post-mortem examination has been conducted in Palmerston North and police expect it to be finished some time today.

"We will be able to release Mr Tauhore's body to his family when that examination is complete," a police spokesman said.

"We will monitor the influx of gang members into the area.

"We know they are coming from as far away as Christchurch and from North Auckland for his tangi," he said.

"Senior members of the gang are co-operating with us and the situation remains calm."