The man fatally shot at a park in South Auckland in the early hours of yesterday morning, has been described as fun loving and hard working.

Photo: Supplied / NZ police

Twenty-one-year-old Samiuela Anania Tupou had recently returned to New Zealand from the United States.

Detective Senior Sergeant Darrell Harpur said he was found in Seaside Park in Ōtāhuhu at 4.40am yesterday after reports of a shooting.

Emergency services tried to treat Mr Tupou, but he died at the scene.

His family and friends said he was a fun-loving, hard-working young man who regularly attended church.

The police are appealing for witnesses and in particular any sightings of a light or gold-coloured people mover in the area at the time of the shooting.

Photo: RNZ / Jessie Chiang

The chairperson of the Mangere-Otahuhu Board, Lemauga Lydia Sosene, said the community was devastated by his death.

She said it was important that the people responsible for the shooting were held responsible and urged anyone with information to come forward.