Light burns bright for dead father

A simple symbol of a daughter's love sits just inside the property of murdered Waihi man Phillip Hennah.

Lucci Hennah, 19, came down from her home in Whangarei after her father was found brutally beaten outside his home on Saturday.

She placed a posy on a fence rail and, alongside it, a candle burning in a miniature miner's lantern.

The teenager has vowed to keep the little light burning as police continue to hunt down the person responsible for taking a precious life.

Yesterday investigators were still doing a scene examination at the old renovated house, tucked out of sight down a 45m driveway.

Entry from the street was taped off and a security guard was on duty.

Eastern Waikato police want to speak to all associates and friends of the 48-year-old Waihi identity.

The officer in charge of the inquiry, Senior Sergeant Glenn Dunbier, said Mr Hennah was last seen by his wife at home about 2am on Saturday. He was still up when she went to bed.

The family became concerned when he was not at home the next morning. They found his body lying in the rain on the property that afternoon. It had not been visible from the house.

Mr Dunbier said Mr Hennah had considerable injuries from a beating but it was too early to speculate on whether a weapon was involved.

He believed a number of people who knew Mr Hennah might be reluctant to speak to the police.

"But we are looking only at the homicide. We are not interested in small-time criminal dealings."

Members of Mr Hennah's family declined to comment on what that might mean or on any suggestion of involvement with drugs.

"There are a lot of rumours around but that is all they are - rumours," said his sister, Peggy Jones.

The large tight-knit family was in shock. Mr Hennah was the youngest sibling and "very lucky to have been with us at all", she said.

Born and brought up in Auckland, he was an Rh-negative baby who had to have a blood transfusion at birth.

He moved to Waihi some 20 years ago with his first wife, Jenny, who died of breast cancer shortly before Lucci's 5th birthday - the same age his second daughter, Kathleen, is now.

Seven years ago, Mr Hennah married Patricia, who had four girls of her own. The couple later welcomed Kathleen to the family.

Mrs Jones said her brother, a skilful craftsman with wood and a talented screen printer, was involved in the community and helped to start a youth programme when the girls were younger. From there, Lucci went on to become a Waikato roller hockey junior champion.

"He was a doting father and a loving husband. He made a very good job with his kids and step-children through some trying times," she said.

"If anybody has any information that would help, please tell the police. The longer this drags on the more distressing it becomes."

Mr Hennah will be buried on Thursday.