Chris Bush was shot dead at a rural Waikato pub after a late-night hold-up 30 years ago.

Two men have been charged with murdering Chris Bush following a breakthrough in the 30-year-old cold case.

Bush, 43, was shot dead at the Red Fox Tavern in 1987 after a hold-up turned to homicide.

Nearly 30 years on, "new information" over his killing at the north Waikato pub led to the arrest of two men this week, police said on Thursday.

NZ POLICE Chris Bush was shot dead in 1987 at the Red Fox Tavern.

In July, police reopened the cold case after his "tragic and senseless death" just before midnight on Saturday, October 24.

READ MORE:

* Police reopen Chris Bush cold case

* Red Fox Tavern cold case reopened after 70 suspects but no arrest

The fresh leads prompted police to revisit the investigation and arrest a 57-year-old man in Tauranga on Wednesday.

43-year-old Chris Bush was murdered after a hold-up turned fatal at the Red Fox Tavern in 1987.

He was charged with murder and aggravated robbery and will appear in the Manukau District Court on Thursday.

A 58-year-old man was also arrested and was charged with murder and aggravated robbery in Auckland on Thursday.

He will appear in Manukau District Court next week.

BILL MCNICOL/SUNDAY STAR-TIMES Wife Gay Bush is comforted by her daughters Penny (left) and Jodie at at Chris's funeral in 1987.

After reopening the case in July, police were able to narrow their focus in August to a small group of "persons of interest" based on new information, Detective Inspector Gary Lendrum of Manukau CIB said at the time.

PUB HOLD-UP TURNS TO MURDER

Bush was shot dead at the Red Fox Tavern in Maramarua on October 24, 1987.

DAVID HALLETT/SUNDAY STAR-TIMES Police man the cordon outside the car park of the Red Fox Tavern following Bush's murder.

The 43-year-old father of two was the hardworking manager of what was once the go-to stop on State Highway 2 between Auckland and Tauranga.

Bush was having a drink with three staff members just after closing time at midnight, when two heavily disguised men burst into the bar yelling, "This is a hold-up."

One was carrying a double-barrelled shotgun and the other a baseball bat.

Bush stood up and was shot and killed.

One of the men ordered a female staff member to search Bush's pockets for the key to the safe.

They emptied the safe before leaving the bar.

Following the arrests, police thanked the media, Police Ten 7 and the public for their help.

They added that Bush's relatives have been through "every family's worst nightmare and throughout this time they have shown courage, strength and bravery".

Police said they hope the two arrests offer Bush's family some degree of comfort and closure.

"These arrests have been a long time coming and we hope this sends a message that police will not give up on finding those responsible for crimes and holding them to account," they added.