A resident who saw the fatal west Auckland welding explosion has described the man who died as hard-working.
A father-of-two died after a garden shed caught on fire in Henderson on Monday night at around 5pm.
A man who lived on the same property told Newshub the victim often "fixed things" for free. He described him as a hard-working "handyman".
The man didn't know what the victim's latest project was, but he was "always fixing holes and welding things like classic cars".
Detective Senior Sergeant Callum McNeill says a scene examination is still under way and the cause of the explosion is still unclear.
Another local, Tyler Proud, told Newshub it may be a stereotype in west Auckland that meth labs are common, but people shouldn't be assuming as there is a young family that has just lost a father.
There is still a heavy police and fire presence at the scene of the shed explosion, and a short time ago New Zealand Defence Force personnel were seen arriving.
Nearby residents described the ordeal as "horrible", and said screaming and crying could be heard coming from the shed after the explosion.
One woman said the explosion "shook out the whole house".
A scene guard remains in place, and the matter has now been referred to the Coroner.
Newshub.
