The family of a man critically injured when he was king-hit outside a fast food restaurant in South Auckland has pleaded for information from the public to help find the attackers.
A police car and cordon at the scene of the attack outside Denny's in Lakewood Court, Manukau. Photo: RNZ/ Lauren Baker
The police are still looking for the group of men who attacked George Siaosi as he was walking to Denny's in Manukau early on Saturday morning.
The 36-year-old's family and friends have spoken out this afternoon, asking anyone who was involved or who knows anything to come forward.
His father, Johnny Siaosi, said his son had helped him keep his faith when he lost a younger son.
"My son is a lovely man. He's a youth worker. I always remember him - his birthdays - the only arguments were, every kid wanted to be his best friend. Who was his best friend? What's what they would talk about."
Other family members, including his mother, said they were heartbroken by an experience no family should ever have to go through.
Police urge end to macho behaviour
Detective Inspector Gary Lendrum, however, said fights like the one that hospitalised Mr Siaosi happened every weekend in Auckland.
"This macho bulls*** has to stop. This one-on-one, you and I, out the back now, has to stop," he said.
"Over my career, time and time again I've seen people severely injured as a result of this one-punch scenario."
Mr Lendrum said police were talking to witnesses and examining CCTV footage to try to track the men down.
Listen to Detective Inspector Gary Lendrum