A jury in Hamilton has found a 19-year-old man not guilty of murder, but guilty of the manslaughter of a man at Waihi beach on New Year's Day.
Israel Kaihau, of Waihi, admitted killing 64-year-old Robert Wilkinson, but had pleaded not guilty to murder.
Mr Wilkinson died after being stabbed in the head outside his caravan in the early hours of 1 January this year.
Kaihau was on bail and had been hiding in bushes trying to avoid the police when Mr Wilkinson disturbed him.
Justice Dobson remanded Kaihau in custody for sentencing in November.
Outside court Kaihau's lawyer Paul Mabey, QC, said that his client always maintained he hadn't intended to kill Mr Wilkinson and deeply regrets his actions.
