Bruce Wirihana-Hawkins was a loving father of six, however his life was cut short after he died of critical injuries on Friday.
A man has been arrested in relation to Wirihana-Hawkins' death. He appeared in court on Saturday and was granted interim name suppression.
The 42-year-old is charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He will reappear in court next month.
Sonny Agafili Fogasavaii, a close friend of Wirihana-Hawkins growing up, said he was a hard working man, and a "great father to his kids".
He was "always smiling", and was a "great friend". He said Wirihana-Hawkins was also an adept softball player.
Police at the crime scene, a Lumsden Rd address in Akina, Hastings, on Friday.
"He [used] to live right behind me growing up and he was one of my brother's best friends, so he was basically like an older brother to me when we were out and about."
The house on Lumsden Rd, in Akina, Hastings, where he was found critically injured, was the same house he had lived in for as long as Fogasavaii could remember.
Wirihana-Hawkins lived there with his children and partner, Leanne.
His death "took everybody by shock", Fogasavaii said.
Jamie Ianeta, another close friend of Wirihana-Hawkins, said he was "just one of those [people] you can get along with".
"Just so down to earth, [a] straightforward guy, someone you could trust, talk, and especially have a laugh with. He was like a brother to me, always had my back no matter what the situation was and of course he was a really hard working man and a real family man too," Ianeta said.
Ianeta and Wirihana-Hawkins had grown up together.
"He was just a real genuine guy, so much love for others, especially the kids ... Never would've thought anything like this would ever happen to anyone that I was close to."
Wirihana-Hawkins' tangi was held on Tuesday, February 12.
Police were called to the house about 2.35am on Friday after receiving a report of a critically injured Wirihana-Hawkins.
Emergency services administered CPR but the 30-year-old died at the scene.
A death notice said Wirihana-Hawkins was "tragically taken".
A police spokeswoman said a decision was yet to be made on whether further, more serious charges would be laid against the 42-year-old man.
Wirihana-Hawkins' tangi was held on Tuesday at Kahuranaki Marae in Te Hauke.