Ōpōtiki is mourning the loss of a father, partner, brother, son and keen golfer after his public death on Friday night.

The 36-year-old was killed overnight Friday on Church Street, Ōpōtiki, after receiving what police believe to have been stab wounds to the chest.

A homicide investigation opened by police has resulted in two arrests.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Wilson said a 31-year-old patched Mongrel Mob member was arrested on Monday evening and charged with murder.

He appeared in the Whakatāne District Court on Tuesday morning and was remanded in custody to reappear at Tauranga District Court on February 26.

The names and details of the defendant and the victim are suppressed.

A 25-year-old man was also arrested on Sunday afternoon. He has been charged with assault and is due to reappear in the Whakatāne District Court on February 12.

“Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to the death.

“Additional police resources from the wider Bay of Plenty District have been in Ōpōtiki since Saturday morning assisting with inquiries and providing reassurance to the public.”

Meanwhile, tributes have flowed for the victim, who has been described as “one of the good ones.”

He was a member of Ōpōtiki Golf Club, which extended its condolences to the man's whānau.

“He will be missed by all his golfing buddies and especially his Pennant team members,” a Facebook post read.

The club said the man was a well-respected member of the club. “We will miss his cheeky smile and humble nature.”

Ōpōtiki mayor David Moore shared in the condolences saying his thoughts were with the man and his whānau.

“The community has lost an amazing young man.”

Mr Moore said he’d had support from Minister of Police Mark Mitchell and had been kept abreast of the issue by Eastern Bay acting area commander Inspector Jamie Keenleyside.

He said he was not able to add anything further to the information police had released through the media but described the death as “gutting news.”

At Ōpōtiki District Council’s meeting yesterday, Mr Moore said a karakia and called for a minute’s silence in memory of the victim.

“We’re just thinking of him and his whānau and what they’re going through.”

Councillor Barry Howe forewent his prepared inspirational message for the meeting, choosing instead to speak about the man.

He described the loss as a “massive kick in the guts,” and said he was “a family man, a hard worker and an inspirational leader in our community for the younger youth.”

“None of us are [on council] for any other reason than to make Ōpōtiki a good place for our tamariki and our mokopuna. We put all this work in, and we think everything is going along nicely and something disastrous happens like this, with this young man, who was taken out tragically.

“It undermines what you’re on council for at that particular time.”

But he said it was important to carry on.

“We get knocked down, but we get up again. We've got to for the sake of our community.”

In a statement on Saturday, police Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Varnam said emergency services were called to Church Street, Ōpōtiki shortly after midnight due to reports of a fight.

“One of those involved had received an injury to the chest consistent with a stab wound,” he said.

“Despite medical attention, the man died at the scene.”

Ōpōtiki district councillor and retired police officer Tom Brooks told the Beacon that the young, female police officer on duty at the time of the stabbing had done a lot to prevent the situation from escalating.

“She did some sterling work. She was able to defuse the situation because of the fact that she knew the victim and the family. It was a good bit of policing.”

He said it was a shame Ōpōtiki did not have more police with that level of local knowledge.

“My understanding from what I’ve been told by the community is that she was working on her own, and because of her connection to the community she was able to defuse the situation.

“There were a lot of angry people about.

“It just goes to show the value of having police officers that live and work in the community or who are from the community. The barriers come down. It takes a long time to build those relationships.

“Whereas, if you police it from out of town, unfortunately, you don’t have that local contact.”

The man's nehu is on Thursday at Opeke Marae.