Phillip Cottrell, 43, had just finished the night shift as bulletin editor in RNZ's Wellington newsroom when he was attacked while walking through Gilmer Tce to Boulcott St about 5.30am on Saturday.
He had severe head injuries and his arm was badly injured. He died in hospital yesterday.
His wallet was taken, and Radio New Zealand head of news Don Rood said last night he presumed "naked greed" was behind the attack.
"I've heard that some items were stolen and it just makes it even more callous that someone's life is worth a few dollars and a credit card, it's just pathetic.
"Phillip wasn't the sort of person that would go around provoking trouble, he was not that sort of person.
"He was not aggressive, he was not antagonistic, he was a nice guy ..."
Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Miller of Wellington CIB said police had spent much of yesterday examining the scene of the assault and canvassing the area around it.
"We have a number of inquiries which need to be carried out to ascertain what has occurred and how this victim came to be fatally assaulted."
Police did not yet know whether robbery was a motive, and couldn't comment on whether Cottrell's wallet was taken.
Radio New Zealand host Lloyd Scott, one of the last people to see him, told TV3: "He would be no threat to anybody - somebody said to me yesterday, one of his friends, 'I think he's the nicest person I've ever met'."
Cottrell had a rare medical condition that made his bones fragile.
"Even if he'd been pushed and his head bashed against the wall and he fell down on his arm that might have caused the horrendous injuries he ended up with," said Scott.
Former RNZ presenter Sean Plunket said last night he was in shock over Cottrell's death.
"He was a thoroughly nice bloke, really nice. He really was a lovely guy.
"He was very unassuming, the last person you'd think this would happen to. If someone confronted him, he's not the type of guy who would provoke them."
Rood said Cottrell, a Briton, had worked at RNZ for about five years.
His sister had moved to New Zealand and he visited, fell in love with the country and got a job at RNZ.
At the time he was working at the BBC Scotland, having previously been with the BBC in London.
Rood said he was "extraordinarily competent" at his job, putting together hourly news bulletins for the country's national radio broadcaster.
The RNZ team had been deeply affected by his death.
"Journalists are used to trying to remain dispassionate and reporting on things from outside. When you're actually involved on the inside, when it's one of your own, it's just gut wrenching. It was an appalling act of violence on one of our employees."
Earlier yesterday, a large number of his colleagues gathered at Wellington Hospital to offer support.
His sister and brother-in-law had come from their Te Anau home and were being supported by Cottrell's wide circle of friends, Rood said.
Cottrell's colleagues would all be offered counselling, Rood said.
The nature of the job meant many worked shifts and "we will be having a long, long talk about how we can improve security".
Rood said he was stunned that the attack happened in daylight in an area not thought of as being dangerous.
The Baptist Church, the Historic Places Trust's head office and the new Telecom building are nearby, as are two other media organisations.
- Sharon Lundy and Matthew Theunissen
