The body of a man who was shot dead by police after he took his former partner hostage in Taranaki has been released to his family.
Anthony Ratahi, 46, held his former partner for 12 hours at an Opunake hotel over the weekend.
He had been out of prison for just over a week, following an earlier attack on the same woman.
A police spokesperson says Mr Ratahi's body was released to his family on Tuesday.
Police have wrapped up their scene investigation and the hotel has been handed back to its owners.
Police say an investigation is likely to take several months.
