“You lived loyal, righteous and stood fearless, and walked your path with mana. You were real. Solid. Proud. And to me, you were everything.”
Others said he held mana, was “fearless to the core”, and a loyal friend.
A former teacher described him as having a cheeky smile and a “pleasure to teach”.
Zain Matenga Taikato-Fox, 20, died after he was found on the side of the road with critical injuries.
Detective Inspector Lindsay Pilbrow said police were alerted at 7.10pm that the man had been brought to Rotorua Hospital by the men, who had advised hospital staff they had found him injured on a roadside.
Police are investigating Taikato-Fox’s death and speaking to the four men.
“We are working to piece together the events of the night with the assistance of associates who were with the deceased,” Pilbrow said.
Police would like to hear from witnesses to any type of motor vehicle incident on Saturday night between 5pm and 7pm on State Highway 33 between Paengaroa and Rotorua.
Pibrow said he could not be any more specific around the location “at this stage”.
When asked by the Rotorua Daily Post what caused his injuries, Pillbrow said: “Police are not able to make any further comment around the nature of the injuries to the deceased man at this stage until final forensic and medical examinations have been completed”.
“The deceased male is from Rotorua. No charges have been laid around his death,” he said.
“Police and victim support are working with his family to support them currently.
“We would encourage anybody with information relating to this matter to contact the Rotorua Police.”
Anyone with information should call 105 and quote file number 250726/5566.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Police retracted an earlier statement that said a homicide investigation had been launched.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
