One of the four men shot dead in Darwin, Australia, this week was from New Zealand.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it was "aware of the death of a New Zealander in Darwin, and is in contact with local authorities. For privacy reasons no further information will be provided."

Radio New Zealand reported that a 52-year-old New Zealand national was killed in the attack.

It is understood the New Zealand man worked as a security guard at Darwin's casino.

Hoffmann, 45, was on parole after being released from prison when he allegedly used a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun to kill four men and seriously injure a woman on Tuesday evening.

Ben Hoffman has been arrested and charged with the incident. Photo / Supplied

Four men were shot dead and a woman injured in the shootings in the Darwin CBD.

It's alleged Hoffman used a stolen shot gun to carry out the shooting spree.

Terrorism has been ruled out as a contributing factor.

"Based on what we do know currently, it is highly likely that two of those victims were known to him and the other two were not," NT police commissioner Reece Kershaw told reporters.

Witnesses and NT Police say the gunman was looking for a man named "Alex" when the shooting began. Police later established "Alex" was in fact interstate at the time.

When asked what the relationship between the accused and Alex was, Kershaw said: "There may or may not have been an issue relating to a female involved in this, so there was a number of issues that were actually avenues of inquiry that we are following in relation to that."