Police were searching for Hone Kay-Selwyn, 31, who they believed shot a man dead in Ponsonby Rd on Sunday night.
They have named the victim as Robert Sidney Horne.
The 33-year-old had just got out of a car with three others outside a bar when a man fired multiple shots in their direction.
By the time emergency services arrived, Horne had died.
Police said the suspect had earlier been refused entry to the bar, but the motivation behind the shooting was not yet clear.
On Wednesday morning, a source confirmed the discovery of Kay-Selwyn's body to RNZ.
It was not known how he died.
Detective Inspector Chris Barry told reporters today homicide investigators were travelling to the Taupō region yesterday afternoon to find Kay-Selwyn.
"On the way, police were notified of a man located deceased at a rural address in the Broadlands area."
The death was being treated as unexplained, he said.
Kay-Selwyn was found by an associate on Tuesday. Police also confirmed the suspect was a member of the Killer Beez gang.
"While a post-mortem examination is yet to be completed, it is believed the deceased is the man sought by police in relation to the homicide investigation."
Police did not believe there was any relationship between Hoare and Kay-Selwyn, nor did they believe the victim and his associates on Sunday night had any criminal group links.
Auckland City CIB will be working with Bay of Plenty detectives as part of the investigation.
Barry said the homicide investigation remained ongoing, but police were not seeking anyone else in relation to it.
"Our investigation team will continue to piece together the information received to date and we will continue to make enquiries on behalf of the Coroner.
"Police have notified the victim's family of these developments, and we have been in touch with the family of the man sought."
In a social media post, Horne's family said they expected the Coroner to release his body on Wednesday.
"It is with deep sadness we announce the tragic and sudden passing of our son, brother, moko, uncle & friend to many," the Facebook post said.
They said his body would lie at Parawera Marae once it was released.
Meanwhile, a woman who said she was the partner of Kay-Selwyn has expressed remorse for his actions.
In a now deleted Facebook post earlier this week, she said her inbox had been "overflowing" with messages about her partner's actions on Sunday night in Ponsonby.
"I want to express my sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of the victim. I'm deeply sorry and feel a great sense of shame about the situation."
She said she was "grappling" with the fact he had taken someone's life.
When contacted by RNZ the woman did not want to comment further.
Police would not comment directly on the social media post or confirm if they had spoken to the woman.
