Community in shock after hunter's death

The man who died this morning while hunting near Te Kaha has been named as Carlos Tauhou Ngamoki. Photo / Facebook

The man who died this morning while hunting near Te Kaha has been named.

He was Carlos Tauhou Ngamoki, 27, of Te Kaha.

Mr Ngamoki had been hunting deer on his own property, with two others, when a firearm was discharged about midnight last night.

The small community of Te Kaha is now in shock.

A local resident, who didn't wish to be named, said the man had a lot of hunting experience.

She said he got on well with everyone and they were all taking it pretty hard.

A family member of Mr Ngamoki's, Paul O'Brien, said the death had hit hard.

"We've been feeling for the families who have had similar circumstances just recently and now it's happened on our own doorstep," he told 3News.

The community was now focused on supporting the man's whanau.

"There's too many firearm accidents happening in New Zealand, especially in recent times. They're happening in our own backyard," he said.

Tributes to Mr Ngamoki have been penned on Facebook.

Kamaea Henderson wrote: "Feeling heartbroken ... most of all broken into a million pieces for my son."

More than 50 people have commented on that post, offering love and condolences.

New Zealand Deerstalkers Association president Bill O'Leary said this was a sad week for hunters."
When we are having a real bad run at the moment," he said.

When incidents like this occurred, the association needed to re-visit the safety messages, Mr O'Leary said.

"We need tweak the way we instruct.

"We have real basic rules and respect with safety to firearms and we continue to hammer that [to hunters]."

This is the second hunting fatality this week after an 11-year-old Reporoa boy, Connor Brian Phillips was shot on a hunting trip in Kaingaroa Forest near Taupo on Sunday afternoon.

Police say their investigation is continuing.

The area has been cordoned off for a scene examination and an investigation is underway.