The owner of a sheep station where a 10-year-old boy was shot dead yesterday says the family had been in the Waikura Valley for only a few days.
The Gisborne family of shearers is preparing to return to be with relatives today as detectives investigate the boy's death on a remote East Coast station.
Ken McLanachan owns Te Kumi Station where the boy was staying with his parents, who were part of a shearing gang.
The boy's parents were believed to have been working on a neighbouring property when the 10-year-old was killed about 4pm yesterday.
Two friends, both a similar age, were with the boy when he died.
The pair ran back to the workers' quarters where the family was living and alerted adults to call 111.
"It's pretty tough. I know they'll be just devastated,'' Mr McLanachan said.
Police are this afternoon at the station manager's home as they investigate the death.
A forensic scientist has been at the scene and a post-mortem examination will determine the cause of death.
"The circumstances surrounding the death are currently unknown but it is believed that a firearm was involved,'' Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Scott, of Tairawhiti CIB, said in a statement this morning.
Mr McLanachan said the family members were "hard workers'' who had been employed on properties in the region for years and were known for being reliable.
Richard Joplin, a friend and neighbour, said the family would probably never return to the station.
Mr Joplin, who lives on the neighbouring Mohau Station, said the family planned to return to relatives in Gisborne as soon as possible.
"They're all in shock at the moment,'' he said.
- By Kieran Campbell of APNZ
