The High Court at Rotorua has heard emotional evidence from friends and associates of Harley Shrimpton as the murder trial of Piripi Tukaokao and Tuara Heke continues.
The Crown alleges Shrimpton was kidnapped and murdered in November 2023 following escalating disputes linked to drug debts. The trial is now examining the relationships, messages and events leading up to his disappearance and death.
Friend Warned Police Before Shrimpton Vanished
A close friend of Shrimpton told the court he went directly to police after two masked men allegedly arrived at his Pāpāmoa home searching for Shrimpton in the early hours of 3 November 2023.
The witness said the men demanded access to his phones after unsuccessfully attempting to locate Shrimpton.
Giving evidence through tears, the friend recalled later telling police:
"I told the cops they needed to go find Harley before these guys did."
The witness said he had been warned not to contact police and was allegedly threatened that he would be "put in a box" if he spoke about what had happened. Despite the warning, he reported the incident.
The Crown alleges the two men involved were defendants Piripi Tukaokao and Tuara Heke. Both deny the aggravated robbery charge connected to the incident.
Crown Alleges Debt Dispute Escalated
The court heard evidence that Shrimpton had accumulated a number of drug-related debts in the weeks leading up to his death.
His friend told the court he had advised Shrimpton to leave Tauranga because of growing concerns about people looking for him.
The witness said he believed Shrimpton was unwilling to leave the lifestyle he was involved in at the time.
The trial is being heard in the High Court at Rotorua. Photo: NZME / Andrew Warner
Witness Describes Life Surrounded By Drugs And Debt
A woman who knew Shrimpton also gave evidence, describing a period where both were unemployed and heavily involved in drug use. She told the court they had at times been homeless and living from her vehicle.
According to her evidence, Shrimpton frequently accumulated debts but had generally managed to resolve them.
However, by October 2023, she said the situation had changed and creditors were actively seeking repayment.
The court heard evidence that Shrimpton had been assaulted over an unpaid debt and that tensions were increasing throughout the weeks before his death.
Messages presented to the jury showed a relationship marked by frustration, concern and affection as the woman attempted to help Shrimpton navigate his worsening situation.
Text Messages Reveal Growing Fear
The Crown has presented a 42-page compilation of telecommunications evidence detailing messages exchanged by Shrimpton and others during the final weeks of his life.
The messages paint a picture of a man under increasing pressure.
On 2 October 2023, Shrimpton reportedly messaged that he had "f***ed up" and feared he might be shot. He later wrote that he urgently needed to raise money and was unsure whether people would hear from him again.
Other messages presented in court show repeated demands for repayment of money owed.
The Crown alleges the exchanges demonstrate escalating frustration and pressure being applied to Shrimpton in the weeks before he disappeared.
CCTV Tracks Final Movements
According to the Crown case, events culminated on 3 November 2023 after Shrimpton's friend's phone was allegedly taken and used to arrange a meeting.
The prosecution alleges Shrimpton attempted to avoid contact but was later located at Mount Maunganui McDonald's.
CCTV footage shown to the court reportedly captured Shrimpton getting into Tukaokao's vehicle.
The Crown alleges Shrimpton was then taken against his will to a rural property on Poripori Road outside Tauranga.
Competing Accounts Of What Happened
The prosecution alleges Shrimpton was shot in the chest, killed and buried at the remote property.
Tukaokao denies murder and maintains the shooting was accidental, arguing he did not intend to kill Shrimpton.
Heke denies involvement in the alleged kidnapping and murder-related offences.
Harley Shrimpton was killed on a rural property in the Western Bay of Plenty in 2023. Photo: NZME / NZ Police
Trial Continues
The trial continues in the High Court at Rotorua as jurors hear further evidence surrounding the events leading to Harley Shrimpton's death and the actions of those involved in the weeks before he disappeared.
Source: This report is based on original reporting by Hannah Bartlett (Open Justice), first published by the New Zealand Herald and republished by Radio New Zealand (RNZ) on 9 June 2026, with additional context and analysis by elocal.