The Far North community is shocked and saddened after the death of a well-known Kaitāia businessman, Monty Knight.

Knight died on Sunday following reports of an assault and a 57-year-old woman has since been charged with murder.

Knight was a stalwart of the Kaitāia community, who was the director of Knights the Jewellers and Okahu Estate winery.

He was also a former councillor with both Far North District Council and Northland Regional Council.

On Sunday, emergency services were called to an Okahu Rd address about 12.35pm, where a man was found with critical injuries.

Despite the best efforts from emergency services, he died at the scene.

Acting Detective Inspector Tania Jellyman, from Northland CIB, said police arrested a woman at a separate address on Sunday afternoon and she has since been charged with murder.

“Police are not seeking anyone else in relation to this matter,” she said.

“A scene examination is continuing and a post-mortem examination will be carried out in the coming days.”

Former Far North mayor John Carter described Knight as a “dear friend”.

“He’s an amazing community person. He’s a very successful businessman who has contributed an incredible amount to the community in which he lived.

Monty Knight said he was warned about setting up Okahu Estate in the 1980s but the Far North winery went on to win many awards.

“He is certainly one of the people that everybody knows and the community will miss him badly.”

Carter said Kaitāia will not be the same place without him.

“I’m still in shock - I just can’t get over it.”

The feeling of shock was echoed by Colin “Toss” Kitchen, another Kaitāia community leader who served two terms with Knight on the Far North District Council.

“He was a community icon in Kaitāia, a business leader and people’s person.

“He has done so much for the community of Kaitāia and indeed for Northland - and the wine industry and local tourism - there’s just so much that he’s done.”

Kitchen said Knight was generous, not just with money but with sound advice, and he always had an open-door policy.

‘I’m not finished giving back to my community’

Monty Knight (right) was a Northland Regional councillor and is pictured during surveying at Lake Ngatu in 2015. Photo / NRC

Knight was born and bred in Kaitāia and began his career as an entrepreneur with a shoeshine stand.

In 1968 he opened a tiny record store called Monty’s Disc Inn. The business flourished and eventually grew into a major supplier of electronics, appliances and beds.

He succeeded an older brother as owner of Knights the Jewellers, which was founded by his parents, and established critically acclaimed vineyard Okahu Estate in 1984.

In 2021, Knight was inducted to the Northern Advocate Business Hall of Fame, calling it one of the highlights of his career.

He was a Far North District councillor for from 2010 and was also elected to the Northland Regional Council in 2015.

Knight unsuccessfully stood for the Far North mayoralty several times, and this year threw his hat in the ring again as a district councillor.

In a social media video for his council candidacy, Knight said he tried retiring but found it “too boring”.

“I’m not finished giving back to my community,” he said in the video.

Monty Knight (second from left) and his daughter Adeline Knight were overwhelmed when Kaitāia locals helped support Knights the Jewellers during an alleged robbery. Photo / NZME

‘Farewell is going to be massive’

While details of Knights farewell are still being worked out, Kitchen said he expected the Kaitāia community to get involved.

“Monty’s farewell celebration, I think, is going to be massive. He touched so many people’s hearts.”

Kitchen said he knew the woman who has been charged with murder and said he saw no red flags in her behaviour.

He offered his condolences to all the emergency services staff who attended the incident on Sunday, including Kaitāia Volunteer Fire Brigade, who did their best to revive Knight, to no avail.

Whangārei business leader Tim Robinson, who is deputy chairman of NorthChamber, said he was gobsmacked at the news of Knight’s death.

The pair had several business connections and also shared a love of red wine.

Robinson described Knight as a “serial entrepreneur” who never thought anything was too hard.

“One of the things that I loved was his perpetual optimism and determination to succeed. He oozed optimism.”

Robinson said Knight was 100% committed to Kaitāia and always thought the town was suitably self-sufficient, with no need to rely on anywhere else.

Woman appears briefly in court

The 57-year-old woman charged with Knight’s murder appeared briefly in the Kaitāia District Court on Monday afternoon.

Wearing jean shorts and a casual jumper, the woman stood in the dock as she appeared before a Justice of the Peace.

She was granted interim name suppression and was remanded in custody until her next appearance at the High Court in Whangārei on December 5.

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.