The family of the fatally stabbed dairy worker are urging authorities to find the attacker as quickly as possible and for justice to be served.
The alleged killer remains at large, with police making fresh appeals for public information on Wednesday's fatal stabbing.
The sister of the 34-year-old Janak Patel has spoken out for the first time.
"We urge the New Zealand Government to urgently catch the criminal who has taken our brother's life and hold the murderer accountable and give him the toughest punishment," she said, according to Stuff. "I need justice for my brother."
Sandringham Business Association chairman Jithin Chittibooma told Newshub that the Sandringham community remains on edge.
"Definitely scared, angry, emotions are very high right now. There are talks about just selling up and moving out."
A tragedy but hardly a surprise. At the local shopping centre, it's agreed, it was just a matter of time before someone was killed during a robbery.
The owners of one grocery store were recently held up at knifepoint.
"Four guys, four perpetrators jumped out, pulled a couple of knives," said Chittibooma.
And just down the road, a vape store is more Fort Knox than a retail business. It's been targeted five times by ram-raiders and thieves, including two knifepoint robberies.
"A couple of times, while they were working here, they just barged in and threatened their lives."
Six months ago the Government set up a $6 million fund to protect businesses from violent robbery - but less than a quarter of that fund has been used.
Police have committed $1.488m for assessments and installations. So far 240 stores have been contacted by officers, but just seven stores have had work fully completed.
Chittibooma said it should be taken out of the hands of police.
"That's ridiculous, isn't it? Like, you could set up a private company and do more than that."
But the Prime Minister's rejecting criticism the Government isn't doing enough.
"We know that we have to do as much as we can to resource our police, which we do. They are the best resourced they've ever been."
Meanwhile, among retailers, another slaying of one of their own cuts deep.
Christchurch dairy owner Mukesh Patel has decided to shut his dairy and leave the country entirely.
"We are not here to be killed. We will probably go back home."
The Kiwi corner dairy is no longer a safe or successful option.
