Hunting death: Whangamatā man Sean Kavanagh appears in court over Michael Bennett’s death in Te Urewera

Rotorua Courthouse. Photo / NZME

A Whangamatā man has appeared in the Rotorua District Court relating to a hunting death in December last year.

Sean Joseph Paul Kavanagh, 50, appeared before a registrar today and entered no plea to a charge of causing the death of Michael William Bennett by carelessly using a firearm, namely a Sako .308 calibre hunting rifle.

Paeroa business owner and hunter Michael William Bennett, 63, died in a hunting incident on December 1, 2023.

The charge relates to an incident on December 1 last year in the Murupara area.

He also entered no plea to a charge of discharging a firearm, namely a Sako .308 calibre hunting rifle, with reckless disregard for the safety of others. That charge related to a separate incident in the Murupara area between the dates of July 31, 2021 and September 7, 2023.

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He faces a maximum penalty on both charges of three years in jail or a $4000 fine.

He was remanded on bail to appear before a judge in the Rotorua District Court on December 17.

Andy Hill appeared for Kavanagh.

Police said in a statement on Tuesday Bennett, 63, was found dead by a hunting companion in Te Urewera.

Bennett was a Paeroa construction business owner and ran for the Hauraki District Council in 2022.

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.