A 64-year-old man has died, two weeks after he was seriously assaulted outside his Tukaanu home, near Turangi.
Police say Gordon Alfred Tunnicliffe never regained consciousness after the attack on 14 April.
A post mortem will be held on Monday in Palmerston North and Mr Tunnicliffe's funeral will be held this week in Hastings.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with assault; the police say they are considering whether to lay more serious charges.
He is due to reappear in the Taupo District Court on 8 May.
