Fierce battle before fatal stabbing of entomologist

An Auckland insect expert was involved in a violent fight before being fatally stabbed, police say.

Police have released further details about the death of entomologist Stephen Thorpe on Saturday morning.

Thorpe was at the Blockhouse Bay tennis club at the time and was working on his laptop, police said.

He then went outside, where a violent altercation ensued, during which Thorpe suffered stab wounds and died at the scene.

Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said Thorpe went outside and a short time later “cries for help could be heard”.

The person who attacked Thorpe was likely covered in blood when he fled, but has not yet been found.

Police urged anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.

A club employee witnessed a violent altercation between the victim and retrieved a phone to call for help, Baldwin said.

“This perpetrator will have gone somewhere, probably in an agitated state and probably with some blood on him,” he said.

Police are appealing for anyone in the area (Rathlin, Whitney, Exminster and Terry Street) who may have noticed anything suspicious to come forward.

“I know this event has shocked the local community and the members of the tennis club,” Baldwin said.

Patrols in the area are being increased and police are urging anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage to come forward.

Jacqui Knight of the Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust said she had known Thorpe for about 10 years as the trust runs a butterfly habitat very close to the tennis club.

Knight described him as “very tolerant and knowledgeable” about all things insect-related, his passion. He walks the reserve near the club every day, looking for insects and plants, she said.

“He spent seven days a week in the office – he just loved it. He was a loner who kept to himself most of the time and wouldn't hurt a fly. It's just so tragic that this happened.”

As far as Knight knew, Thorpe had no close relatives in New Zealand and was originally from Australia.

“He was so eloquent and just loved the nature here, he was also very successful at what he did and I think quite a few insects were named after him.”