Sheep shearer remembered as ‘one of the best’ after fatal house fire in Ashburton

Monday, 7 April 2025

Richard Parore, 30, died following a house fire in Ashburton on Sunday.

Emergency services were called to the Glassey Drive blaze around 12.45am on Sunday.

Police have completed a scene investigation and are not treating the blaze as suspicious.

Parore’s body was found at the Glassey Drive property on Sunday after a fire broke out after midnight.

Stuff understands Porare was a sheep shearer in mid Canterbury.

Tributes online described Parore, nicknamed “Smokey”, as “one of the best” - a cheeky man who told “crack up stories”.

One friend wrote that Ashburton had “lost a solid [,] you will be deeeeply missed”.

“Rest in peace [brother] for every love u and what u done for me in the past rest [easy] my brother,” another said.

“Thank you for being a constant in my life. Rest in peace smoky heaven got a good one. Love you bro.”

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Another wrote, “Peel them sheep in paradise my bro RIP SMOKEY.”

A police spokesperson confirmed the death on Sunday, saying Parore was found in the property by fire crew after it had been put out.

In an update on Monday, police said they had completed a scene investigation and were not treating the blaze as suspicious.

Parore’s death has been referred to the coroner.

An earlier version of this story said the fire broke out after midday on Sunday. It was after midnight - at 12.45am. (Amended 5pm on April 7, 2025)