Michael Joseph Dunlea was found dead, alone in an isolated farmhouse on Wednesday after several days of chaos, destruction and fear for his immediate community.
The 36-year-old farm manager had been released on bail after appearing in Dunedin District Court the previous Friday for breaching a protection order.
He had a record of drug and alcohol associated offending, having served a 29-month prison sentence after a standoff with police in 2019.
A close associate said Mr Dunlea had been open about his past, and people felt he was a reliable workmate with his life under control until recent events.
He suspected alcohol and methamphetamine were involved in the days following Mr Dunlea’s bail, as he spiralled into a rampage including extensive damage to property and farm infrastructure, theft of vehicles and firearms and putting associates in fear of their lives with violent threats.
Arriving rural professionals were prevented from accessing nearby farms, and stock duties including feeding and milking were abandoned as the valley was evacuated and the ends of Hunt Rd blockaded.
An overwhelming force of uniformed and tactical police officers, dog teams, negotiators with communication equipment and about 15 vehicles built up at the junction at Owaka Highway before mobilising at about 10.15am.
A St John ambulance crew joined a roadblock about 500m west of the farmhouse, where a police drone was deployed and empty police cars parked on nearby roads suggested tactical teams had moved on foot to take up positions on surrounding farmland.
About noon, a report of a shot or shots was heard over police short-range radio and the remaining afternoon was hot, quiet and still while the drone remained in constant use.
On Wednesday morning, tactical police dispersed from the address.
"This is not an outcome anyone hopes for," Dunedin area commander Inspector Marty Gray said when he arrived to check on units remaining at the scene.
"We have pulled in a lot of resources from other areas for the support of affected members of the community ... and high visibility to reassure anxiety.
"I have nothing but praise for everyone involved, including the media and especially the community in the immediate area who have been prepared to pretty much drop everything to assist with what we needed from them."
The associate of Mr Dunlea, who had described him as "a really nice guy", said people close to him had been traumatised and would appreciate patience and support, but the prevailing mood was of sorrow.
"We are spending a lot of time talking and reflecting," he said.
"[And] now we have an urgent workload in front of us."
