The University of Otago law faculty is mourning the death of a much-loved alumnus, who was killed in a suspected hit-and-run in Sydney.
Mitch East, 28, was found bleeding on a Tamarama street at 4am on Sunday.
Tamarama is in the city's east, just south of Bondi Beach.
"Police and paramedics performed CPR but were unable to revive the man and he died at the scene," NSW police said.
Australian media are reporting the incident as a hit-and-run.
Otago University law faculty dean Prof Shelley Griffiths said they extended "our most caring thoughts to all the whanau and friends of Mitch, a remarkable graduate and a much-liked member of our academic community".
Mitch graduated with a First Class Honours degree and after being a clerk at the New Zealand Supreme Court and a senior adviser for the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch Terrorist Attack and chose post-graduate study.
He received full scholarship offers to Cambridge Law School, New York University Law School and Harvard Law School.
"One individual receiving such offers from all of these institutions is truly exceptional.
"After completing his LLM, Mitch had embarked on what was sure to be a truly stellar legal career, beginning in New Zealand before moving to Sydney last year."
Prof Griffiths said beyond his outstanding academic accomplishments, "Mitch was quite simply a lovely person".
"Far from being arrogant or self-congratulatory about his achievements, he was easy-going and friendly to all. He had a smile that could brighten any room. The quality of his friendship is spoken to by the outpouring of grief from his classmates here at Otago - he built bonds that time and distance could not loosen.
"As a faculty, we mourn Mitch and his passing away from the shores of his home here in Aotearoa New Zealand: Tukua mai he kapunga oneone ki ahau hei tangi māku ("send me a handful of soil so that I may weep over it")."
A GoFundMe page for his family had by 7.30am on Tuesday more than $A73,500 ($NZ79,200) in four hours.
Prominent names on the list of donations include All Black Anton Lienert-Brown and Black Cap Tim Seifert, who each donated $500.
"While his family, friends and girlfriend attempt to come to terms with the grief of losing someone so loved, we are trying to relieve some of the financial pressure and stress that comes with such a loss," the page read.
"We understand entirely that right now, people are doing it tough themselves so appreciate any donation, albeit big or small."
One of New Zealand’s Supreme Court judges has also voiced his grief about the killing of East this afternoon.
Justice Sir William Young told The New Zealand Herald East was "seriously intelligent".
Justice Young detailed East’s achievements at university; winning the Deans’ Scholar Prizes in two of his subjects as well as obtaining his Master of Laws.
"As this indicates, Mitch was seriously intelligent. He was also hard-working, insightful, and empathetic," Justice Young said.
"He was a remarkable man with the most extraordinary, infectious, and often self-deprecating sense of humour. He was huge fun to work with – an all-round great guy.
"Mitch’s death in Sydney is a shocking tragedy, particularly for his parents and his partner and a terrible waste of a life that held so much promise."
Before studying at Harvard, East was Justice Young’s clerk.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported East's family had been informed of his death by police, and were "upset and distraught". NSW Police on Monday afternoon (NZT) said the investigation - dubbed ‘Strike Force Dunguid' - was being taken over by specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit.
The driver of a white SUV nearby was reportedly being sought by police, who were combing through CCTV footage. No arrests had yet been made.
"As CCTV continues to be reviewed and witnesses spoken to, investigators renew their to appeal for any relevant information, CCTV or dashcam vision from the public.
"Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages."
- matthew.littlewood@odt.co.nz, additional reporting RNZ/NZ Herald
