The two men found guilty of killing Red Fox Taven publican Chris Bush in 1987 have been jailed.
Mark Hoggart, and a man in his sixties who has name suppression, were charged with aggravated robbery and murder in 2017, thirty years after the Maramarua tavern was stormed in 1987. The two men pleaded not guilty, but in March were found guilty.
Hoggart has been sentenced to life in prison for murder and seven years to be served concurrently for aggravated robbery. The other man received life in prison for murder and eight years for aggravated robbery.
Their life imprisonments come with minimum non-parole periods of 10 years.
Following the sentencing, Chris' widow Gaye said "having some closure after all these years brings about a sense of relief and justice for the family and it is now time to move forward and put this painful chapter behind us".
The family said they are extremely pleased with the outcome of the trial and thankful that those responsible have finally been held to account.
They acknowledged their friends, current and former Police staff that worked on the investigation and the Manukau Crown Solicitors office for their dedication and compassion.
Detective Senior Sergeant Albie Alexander said in a statement that the sentencing concluded a 34-year-old case, which was never far from the mind of the Bush family or police investigators.
He said the trial and outcome were a "testament to the professionalism and strength of not only the Bush family but witnesses, investigators and the Manukau Crown solicitors' staff that successfully prosecuted this matter".
The Red Fox Tavern killing was one of New Zealand's most notorious cold cases.
Bush, a father-of-two was drinking with staff at the tavern in October 1987 when two people interrupted them armed with a shotgun and a bat. The publican was shot dead and the pair left with more than $30,000 in cash and cheques.
The case remained unsolved until 2017, when new credible evidence came to light. Thirty-four days after detectives re-opened the case, Hoggart and his co-accused were arrested.
Crown prosecutor Anna Devathasan said on Friday that victim impact statements remind us "that when someone is killed for no good reason, out-of-the-blue, it shatters life and it traumatises people".
"It weakens community bonds and it alters life permanently. Those ripples are enormous and they persist, even 33 years later."
