The New Zealand-Japan Society of Auckland says Shinzo Abe's assassination has sent shockwaves around the local community.
A man pays his respect to Japan's former leader, at a shrine near the scene of the killing in Nara Prefecture. Photo: AFP
Japan's longest-serving former prime minister died last night hours after being shot during a campaign event in the city of Nara.
The New Zealand-Japan Society president, Sonia Yoshioka Braid, said Abe had an affection for this country and visited it several times, starting in 1985.
"He came with his dad who was then the minister for foreign affairs and so he actually visited New Zealand several times so we did have a connection.
"It was so nice when he reached out to Jacinda Ardern when she first started and commiserated with her on the death of her cat."
Shinzo Abe who was fatally shot by a lone gunman in Nara, Japan. Photo: AFP
Yoshioka Braid said while Japan has a history of political assassinations, this kind of violent act was not part of normal Japanese society.
Meanwhile, a steady stream of mourners has been visiting the scene of the killing in the western city of Nara, an unusual act of political violence that has shocked the Japanese nation.
"I'm just shocked that this kind of thing happened in Nara," said Natsumi Niwa, a 50-year-old housewife, after offering flowers with her 10-year-old son near the scene of the killing at a downtown train station.
Schoolgirls leave flowers at a shrine set up near the scene of the killing. Photo: AFP
Prime Minister Ardern said New Zealand stands with Japan in condemning the shooting of Abe.
Ardern said New Zealand has sent its condolences to Japan as it experiences a time of profound grief and deep shock.
She said Abe was one of the first world leaders she met when she became prime minister and he was always focused, thoughtful and generous.
Ardern said the act of violence against him was unfathomable.
Former deputy prime minister Winston Peters said Abe was a stand-out leader in foreign relations.
Peters, who was previously foreign affairs minister, said Abe had an extraordinarily good relationship with New Zealand.
He said Abe stepped up Japan's international relations and gave the kind of leadership that the international stage needed.
The former prime minister was critical in bringing the Trans-Pacific-Partnership back to life, and had a warm personality, Peters added.
Police investigating Abe's assassination said the suspect held a grudge against a "specific organisation".
The alleged gunman, named as Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, believed Abe was part of the group and shot him for that reason, they said, without naming the group.
Yamagami has admitted shooting him with a homemade gun, police said.
Campaigning resumes despite shock
Campaigning in Japan was due to resume today in the final day of electioneering before polling for the upper house of parliament, even as the country reeled from Abe's killing.
Politicians pledged to continue campaigning ahead of Sunday's poll, which is expected to deliver victory to Japan's ruling coalition, while police scrambled to establish the motive and method of Abe's killer.
"A wave of sympathy votes now could boost the margin of victory," James Brady, vice president at advisory firm Teneo, wrote. The Liberal Democratic Party, where Abe retained considerable influence, was seen to be gaining seats in polling before the assassination.
Abe's death has raised questions about the security measures for public figures in Japan, where politicians commonly make direct appeals to voters outside train stations and supermarkets during campaigning season.
Many parties will hold back senior figures from making speeches on Saturday - an important stamp of approval for candidates - but campaigning will go ahead to demonstrate a resolution not to bow to violence, NHK reported.
A scion of a political family who became Japan's youngest post-war premier, Abe was rushed to a Nara hospital following the shooting before being pronounced dead in the late afternoon.
A vehicle thought to be carrying the body of the slain politician left the hospital before 6am today (local time), NHK reported, and was thought to be heading for his Tokyo residence.
- RNZ / Reuters