Missing Kiwi's family devastated by murder charges

Gordon Tearonui Hamm.

The family of missing former Waikato man Gordon Hamm have been devastated with news that two men have been charged with his murder, police say.

Two men were arrested yesterday and charged with the murder of the 34-year-old after he was allegedly bashed and abducted at gunpoint in Australia.

Police fear Mr Hamm, who had been living in Mt Gambier, South Australia, was murdered after the kidnapping in the tiny seaside town of Nelson, close to the South Australian-Victorian border.

He was last seen about 4am on Wednesday last week after taking a shopping trip to Portland on the southwest coast of Victoria.

His body has not been found.

Two men, aged 29 and 35, both from Mount Gambier, will appear in magistrates court.

Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles told ABC News that Mr Hamm's family in New Zealand had been told of the developments.

"We've told them in New Zealand and, as you would understand, [they are] not coping very well and the thing is they want to bury their loved one so, somebody in the community, if you know where he is please come forward.''

The arrests follow a joint operation between Victoria and South Australia Police involving more than 60 officers.

Media outlets, including The Australian, have reported that Mr Hamm was allegedly a small-time drug dealer who owed money to others dealers.

It's understood he didn't have a job, and the rest of his family are in New Zealand.