Man's death yet to sink in, say family

Man shot dead in Maketu.

Family of a man gunned down after leaving a 40th birthday party at Maketu say it will take days for news of his death to really sink in.

Isaac Dale Bushell, 46, who was originally from Kawerau but had been living in Maketu, was found dead in a park at Beach Rd after leaving a party nearby about 1.45am yesterday.

Police have arrested a 19-year-old Maketu man who will appear in the Tauranga District Court today charged with murder.

The accused teen was arrested after police stopped a vehicle he was a passenger in.

Mr Bushell's body was kept at the scene most of yesterday as police carried out forensic examinations and other inquiries. A post mortem examination will be carried out today in Auckland and the body will likely be returned to the family late today or tomorrow, one of Mr Bushell's relatives said.

The man, who asked not to be named, said the family were "completely shocked and devastated" by the death.

"He [Isaac] was a good bloke, he was always out for a bit of fun. He had his good and bad parts, like everyone does but he had a good heart and he was always there for his mates if they needed him.

"We woke up to the news that he was dead and I think it will be days before it really sinks in."

Family of the dead man said Mr Bushell was originally from Kawerau. A Whakatane woman with the surname Bushell, but no relation, spoken to by the Rotorua Daily Post said she would often get phone calls and bills sent to them for Mr Bushell. She said they understood he was from Kawerau.

Another Maketu resident, Chantal Moses, said the accused and Mr Bushell were well known in the beachside town.

She said the whole town was "gutted" by what had happened.

Another local, who only wanted to be known as Jess, was drinking at the party earlier along with the two men and said she thought she had heard gunshots that morning but had shrugged it off.

"I figured it was just fireworks or something," she said.