The man tragically killed in an unprovoked shooting on Ponsonby Rd in Auckland at the weekend had appeared in a heartwarming television show about adopting rescue dogs.
Robert Sidney Horne, 33, was named as the victim of Sunday's attack. He was at a bar with friends at the time.
The suspected gunman, Killer Beez gang member Hone Kay-Selwyn, 31, was found dead in rural Taupō on Tuesday after police launched a manhunt.
Police on Thursday said his death was "not suspicious".
The two men were not known to each other, police said.
Family and friends of Horne paid tribute to the "friend to many" online following the shooting.
Now, producers of TVNZ's The Dog House NZ have joined those paying tribute after he appeared on an episode.
"We found him to be a beautiful, kind and gentle person. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Rob's whanau and friends," a South Pacific Pictures spokesperson told the NZ Herald.
Horne appeared on the show alongside flatmate and friend Amanda Gada, where she met and adopted Fred - a young male staffy cross from Northland.
In the show, Gada described Horne as likely to be "the fun parent" to the new addition.
"Amanda's going to worry about it more than what I am. I'm probably not going to worry about it as much as what she wants me to, but somewhere in the middle we're going to parent with a whole lot of a success," he replied.
The pair laughed and joked throughout the heartwarming episode.
A producer even asked if they were a couple.
"Not like that," Gada said, before Horne added: "As much as she wishes."
Following Horne's tragic death, Gada posted a tribute to her friend on Facebook.
"I met you as a flat mate, and now I love you as a brother," she wrote.
"My heart is broken with the loss of you."
In the comments on her post, a friend said Horne had always made her feel so welcome in their home.
"He was hilarious, extremely generous, and best of all the friendship he had with you and the furry fam, especially Fred, was so special," she wrote. "I am so so sorry to hear this horrible news.
"It's senseless and incomprehensible. I love you Gada and I'm so sorry for your loss."
