Graham McClung, a long-time friend of Davis, told the Herald he went to school with him and his three brothers in Whitianga.
“My mum was a good friend of their mother also.
“Ben in particular was a great comedian and could always be found at the centre of a running joke about current events in the schoolyard or further afield.
“He was an all-around great guy, and he will be sadly missed by his old mates.”
After the fire, Thames-Coromandel Mayor Peter Revell told NZME the situation was “tragic”.
“Wharekaho is just such a beautiful part of the world, [a] beautiful part of our district.
“It’s a tiny community, and for this to happen and for there to be a death as a result is tragic and it’ll be being felt by the whole community. It’s very sad.”
The district was used to adversity, and neighbours often supported each other, he said.
He asked everyone in the community to check on their neighbours.
“Just see that they’re okay as they cope with this tragedy.”
Emergency services were called to the blaze about 2.25am.
“The body of a person was later discovered inside the address,” Senior Sergeant Chris Painter said.
Fire and Emergency spokesman Colin Underdown said the fire was “well involved” and the response was initially upgraded to a second alarm fire.
The blaze was extinguished about 4am.