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

Bay of Plenty Times

Feet first: Why two men are walking from Auckland to Te Puke

Bay of Plenty Times

New children’s series filmed in Bay of Plenty premieres this weekend

Bay of Plenty Times

Police appeal for witnesses after deadly SH1 crash near Taupō


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Bay of Plenty Times

Feet first: Why two men are walking from Auckland to Te Puke
Bay of Plenty Times

Feet first: Why two men are walking from Auckland to Te Puke

They aim to raise awareness for mental health and support The Hub's work.

19 Jul 02:23 AM
New children’s series filmed in Bay of Plenty premieres this weekend
Bay of Plenty Times

New children’s series filmed in Bay of Plenty premieres this weekend

19 Jul 12:00 AM
Police appeal for witnesses after deadly SH1 crash near Taupō
Bay of Plenty Times

Police appeal for witnesses after deadly SH1 crash near Taupō

18 Jul 11:25 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
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