The rifle parts were found among mangroves on the Tamaki Estuary foreshore in Otahuhu on a day three men appeared in the Manukau District Court in connection with Mr Singh's death.
Mr Singh was shot at the Riverton Liquor Store in Manurewa just after 9pm on Saturday. He died the next day.
The three homes of the arrested men remained cordoned off and under guard yesterday.
Anitelea Chan Kee (20), a bouncer, and Tino Faamele Felise (17) were charged with murdering Mr Singh.
They are also jointly charged with armed robbery and aggravated robbery involving the alleged theft of alcohol, cash and phone cards worth $4000 from the liquor store.
Crown prosecutor Richard Marchant said Chan Kee had told police he shot Mr Singh.
His brother, 24-year-old cargroomer Mefiposeta Chan Kee, was charged with being an accessory to the crime for allegedly disposing of the .22-calibre rifle used to shoot Mr Singh and for dumping cardboard packaging from alcohol taken during the robbery.
The three men stood silently in the dock during their brief court appearance yesterday before being remanded in custody to reappear for a predepositions hearing on August 6.
Only two of the accused were able to be photographed by media after Judge David Harvey agreed with Felise's lawyer, Paul Borich, that identity could be an issue and publication of Felise's image could prejudice his case.
Police inquiry head Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher said five search warrants had been executed since 1am yesterday, one in Mt Albert, Auckland, and the rest in the Counties Manukau area.
Police also yesterday found a black hatchback car they were looking for in connection with the shooting and said they also wanted to find a white 4x4 vehicle seen speeding away from the area.
Mr Gallagher said only one of the three arrested was allegedly in the shop during the robbery and shooting. One was allegedly the getaway driver and the third allegedly helped after the robbery.
The arrests came on the day Mr Singh was farewelled by a huge crowd of mourners at the Manukau Memorial Gardens cemetery.
A statement on behalf of his family said they wanted to thank the community and police.
‘‘We are extremely thankful to the people of Randwick Park for all their support in this difficult time. We would also like to thank all the people that feel for us,'' the family said.
‘‘We are also thankful to the media for all their support.''
Adding to the tragedy was the death yesterday of Jagir Singh (80), grandfather of Navtej Singh's wife Harjinder Kaur. Family believed his death was related to stress from the death of Navtej Singh.
Mr Gallagher told the two people still at large that police were coming after them.
‘‘The best they can do is recognise the predicament they are in and come forward voluntarily.''
Mr Gallagher said the two men sought were among the trio seen on the video camera footage robbing the store. The third had been arrested.
Meanwhile, police, under fire for taking too long to enter the liquor store while Mr Singh lay dying, have refused to answer questions surrounding their response to the incident.
Police say procedure after armed robberies means officers have to establish the gunman's whereabouts, waiting at a ‘‘safe point'' before entering.
But during the time they waited to enter the store, up to 12 people came and went from the store without incident. - NZPA/The New Zealand Herald
