KEY POINTS:
Police have launched a homicide inquiry after a 61-year-old man was killed during a fight at his son's 21st birthday party.
Michael William Francis Kowhai died in the early hours of yesterday morning at his Smedley St home in Manurewa.
It is not known what role Mr Kowhai played in the fight but it is understood he was hit twice and other people, including a young woman, were also hit.
Family members called for help after the grandfather lost consciousness about 12.30am. Ambulance officers were unable to revive him and he died at the scene.
Another person was taken to Middlemore Hospital with moderate injuries.
Police have already charged one person, an 18-year-old partygoer, with assault. Further charges are expected to follow.
Mr Kowhai's house remained cordoned off yesterday while police examined the scene and questioned witnesses.
A pair of shoes lay on either side of a footpath leading to the front door and what appeared to be blood spots were circled as evidence on the driveway.
A large forensic tent was erected over the top of the driveway where Mr Kowhai is believed to have died. Disco lights and a tarpaulin were attached to the back corner of the house where the party had been held.
A small balloon was tied to the fence and there were beer cans and a broken beer bottle on the footpath near the house.
Neighbours said Mr Kowhai and his family had moved into the house this year.
One woman said Mr Kowhai seemed a really nice man and she did not have many problems with the family who were "pretty good neighbours".
However, several other neighbours said they frequently had problems with the family who partied regularly.
One woman, who did not want to be identified, said she heard yelling and calls for help coming from the house in the early hours of yesterday morning but was too scared to investigate.
"They were screaming. I knew something had happened but it was only me and my kids so I didn't even look out the window."
The woman's husband said it was not unusual for the family to hold parties twice a week.
Another neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said he had called the police about the parties in the past which "always finished in fighting".
"I feel sorry for loss of the human [being] but since they moved over there they are disturbing [the neighbourhood]. The parties always have a fight at the end. They swear and fight on the street."
One of Mr Kowhai's younger brothers, who did not want to be named, said he was not at the party but had been told his brother died after being hit twice.
He would remember his brother, a retired truck driver, as a good person who had a good sense of humour and enjoyed looking after his mokopuna (grandchildren).
