Man named following fatal house fire north of Whitianga
Tuesday 13 October 2026 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated 
Police have identified 65-year-old Benjamin Tanui Davis as the man who died in a house fire on Wharekaho Road last Thursday. Emergency services attended the blaze at approximately 2.25am, and a second person escaped the property unharmed. The death has been referred to the Coroner and is not being treated as suspicious.
Key facts
5 facts
- Benjamin Tanui Davis, 65, died in a house fire
- The fire occurred at Wharekaho Rd, north of Whitianga
- The incident happened at approximately 2.25am on Thursday, 8 October
- The fire is not being treated as suspicious
- The death will be referred to the Coroner
The full story
1 min read · 3 outlets
Police have identified 65-year-old Benjamin Tanui Davis as the man who died in a house fire north of Whitianga. The fire occurred at a Wharekaho Road property about 2.25am on Thursday, 8 October. A body was discovered inside the house after emergency services responded to the blaze.
The fire was well involved when crews arrived, leading to an initial upgrade to a second alarm fire. The blaze was extinguished at approximately 4am. A second person escaped the property without injury after raising the alarm and is receiving support.
Police confirmed on Tuesday that the fire is not being treated as suspicious. Following a post-mortem examination, the death will be referred to the Coroner.
Thames-Coromandel Mayor Peter Revell described the event as "tragic" for the tiny community. A long-time friend, Graham McClung, remembered Davis as a "great comedian".
Where reports differ
- One report specifies the property is 6km north of Whitianga, while others simply state it is north of Whitianga
Compiled from reports by Stuff, NZ Herald and Waikato Times.
