Bay of Plenty Times
  • Bay of Plenty Times home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport

Locations

  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Katikati
  • Tauranga
  • Mount Maunganui
  • Pāpāmoa
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Bay of Plenty Times

Tauranga victim David Rawiri Kuka was shot 'execution-style' in a case of mistaken identity

Kristin Macfarlane
By Kristin Macfarlane
Bay of Plenty Times·
8 May, 2018 04:25 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Police want to speak to anyone who recognises this vehicle. Photo/Supplied

Police want to speak to anyone who recognises this vehicle. Photo/Supplied

Police say the execution-style shooting of Tauranga's David Rawiri Kuka was a case of mistaken identity.

Detective Inspector Lew Warner said following extensive enquiries police now believe the "murder was a case of mistaken identity and 52-year-old Mr Kuka was not believed to be the intended victim".

"Sadly Mr Kuka was shot execution style and we believe this was premediated and cowardly," Warner said.

Police want to speak to anyone who recognises this vehicle. Photo/Supplied
Police want to speak to anyone who recognises this vehicle. Photo/Supplied

Kuka was shot at a Gate Pa address on February 11 and police are now appealing for information about a silver vehicle seen in the area on the night of the shooting.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Warner said Kuka lived at the Wilrose Place address where he was located seriously injured on 11 February. He died at the scene shortly after emergency services arrived.

"We know that he mainly kept to himself, working at a shop on occasion and carving items for family and friends," he said.

Bay of Plenty Police are now appealing for information about the Kuka's death.

"I believe that the community can help us get answers for Mr Kuka's family. Someone will know something and can help us bring his family some sense of closure."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Police are now interested in a silver vehicle seen near the scene at the relevant time.

The investigation team would like to speak to anyone who recognises the vehicle.

People with information can ring Tauranga Police on 07 577 4300 or call Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111.

Discover more

New Zealand

Murder victim last seen playing guitar in his room

08 May 11:32 PM
New Zealand

Shot execution-style: Victim's family speak of heartbreak

09 May 09:43 PM
New Zealand|crime

Friends recall David Kuka, the man murdered in a case of 'mistaken identity'

11 May 08:00 PM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

live
Bay of Plenty Times

Landslide sparks evacuations, roads closed, homes flooded after storm

12 Jul 12:43 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

'Some of the worst we’ve seen': Huge pile of concrete dumped illegally

12 Jul 12:00 AM
Bay of Plenty Times

'Powerful example': Mum overcomes addiction to build a life helping others

11 Jul 06:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Landslide sparks evacuations, roads closed, homes flooded after storm
live

Landslide sparks evacuations, roads closed, homes flooded after storm

12 Jul 12:43 AM

The North Island is expected to get off to a wet start this morning, with lingering rain.

'Some of the worst we’ve seen': Huge pile of concrete dumped illegally

'Some of the worst we’ve seen': Huge pile of concrete dumped illegally

12 Jul 12:00 AM
'Powerful example': Mum overcomes addiction to build a life helping others

'Powerful example': Mum overcomes addiction to build a life helping others

11 Jul 06:00 PM
Bay home crowd rallies behind netball's Magic

Bay home crowd rallies behind netball's Magic

11 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Bay of Plenty Times e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Bay of Plenty Times
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP