Davinder Singh, 35, was stabbed to death in what his family believe was a robbery gone wrong.
Last night, police were interviewing his distraught wife, Amandeep Kaur, who was alongside him when he was killed.
Police said they were looking for the attacker and a car that was seen on CCTV footage parked behind Mr Singh's silver Honda after the couple stopped outside the Manukau Event Centre in Norman Spencer Drive, Papatoetoe, about 7.20pm on Thursday.
They were on their way home from work and had stopped to eat a takeaway meal when the attack occurred.
The police are seeking the car that parked behind Davinder Singh's in Papatoetoe.
"It is evident that at the time Mr Singh was murdered, a large number of vehicles, including a number of buses, passed the vehicle," Detective Inspector Dave Lynch said.
"Mr Singh's got a lot of wounds so there's definitely an indication of a violent struggle that's occurred in and around the vehicle."
Mr Singh's family say he had no enemies and believe his killing is a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Last night, Mrs Kaur was at Manukau police station being interviewed by detectives. Earlier, police had said she was too distressed to tell them what had happened, other than that the attacker was a man.
Cousin Sandeep Singh, 28, told One News he believed it was an armed robbery gone wrong and that Mrs Kaur was desperately trying to save her husband.
She suffered cuts on her hand during the attack, he said. "She was crying and saying, 'Someone cut his neck'."
Police said the attacker was likely to have significant blood on their clothing.
They have also released the CCTV footage of the mysterious car, which had left the scene before police arrived.
An item of interest, belonging to Davinder Singh, was found in nearby Kenderdine Rd. Police were still searching for a sharp object believed to have been used in the attack.
Shocked members of the Sikh community gathered yesterday at Mr Singh's home in Papatoetoe to await updates from police.
"We are absolutely in shock," family spokesman Daljit Singh said, "but our moral duty is to help her [Mrs Kaur] to cope."
Police spokeswoman Kimberley Mathews confirmed Mrs Kaur was being interviewed.
"The interview process is ongoing and police can't comment any further on that."
Daljit Singh said the couple had a 10-year-old son, who was living with relatives in India.
The couple had been trying to save money to send back to family.
"Davinder was a quiet, sweet young man," Daljit Singh said. "We don't know what happened, who is involved or what the motivations behind the incident was."
He said Davinder Singh came from Rajasthan seven years ago and had been working as an upholsterer at DS Furniture in Mangere.
He and Mrs Kaur decided to send their son back to India to be cared for by their extended family as they wanted to focus on their careers.
Tajinder Singh, owner and director of DS Furniture, described Davinder Singh as an "excellent employee", respectful, and a "really good guy".
"He finished work [on Thursday] and that was the last time we saw him, until I got a call late that night from one of the other co-workers telling me that he'd been stabbed."
The business was closed yesterday.
Police do not have any description of the attacker other than that he was a male.
Can you help?
Anyone with information can contact Counties Manukau police on (09) 261-1300 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111
