Funerals for James and Ray Fleet to be held in Rotorua on Thursday

The funerals for James and Raymond Fleet will be held on Thursday in Rotorua, a week after it was announced their bodies had been found.

They were returned to family yesterday afternoon, police said.

The pair, who were last seen on August 7, were found in the Mamaku Forest late last week and a post-mortem examination was completed on Sunday.

Police had not ruled out drug or gang involvement in the men's deaths, but at a media conference last Friday refused to be drawn on whether they suspected either were involved.

In a public notice in the Herald, family paid tribute to the pair "tragically taken" from them.

James Fleet, 25, was remembered as a beloved son, grandson, brother and nephew.

"Loved by all his whanau and friend to many," the listing read.

His uncle Ray Fleet, 51, was as a father to five children and a grandfather of two, according to the listing.

He was the "much loved" husband of Michiko Suzuki.

A celebration of James and Ray's lives will be held in The Living Well Centre, Biak St, Rotorua on Thursday at 1pm.

"Thank you to friends and family for your love and support, and to the NZ Police for their help and respect," the listings read.

A Givealittle page set up to help James and Ray's families pay for funeral and other costs has reached more than $5500 in donations.

Nearly 100 people have made donations to the page, which was set up by a close friend of James' mother, Bronwyn Fleet.

"This is a way that people can help in a practical way to help with the costs that will need to be taken care of at a sad time like this," she wrote.

"Any koha will be gratefully received."