Gulf Harbor Body In Case: Two Arrested, To Appear In Court

Two people, both 36 years old, were charged with tampering with human remains.

They were scheduled to appear in North Shore District Court this afternoon.

Harrison said police were working with Immigration New Zealand in connection with the incident.

Harrison did not rule out further arrests.

Harrison said police would conduct a search warrant at a residential address in Ōrewa today in connection with a wider investigation.

There will still be a large police presence in Ōrewo.

After tearing through several layers of plastic, the fisherman who found the body initially thought the bag contained meat before he saw a human hand sticking out and called police, he told media on shore.

A few weeks after the woman’s autopsy, police announced they had obtained a DNA profile of the victim. But the profile did not match anyone on police records.

Hoping to gain information from the public, several months after the discovery of the body, police released other details about the body, hoping it would jog the memory of the right person.

Inspector Tim Williams, acting detective, said in May that a post-mortem examination showed she had once had her gallbladder removed.

“She could be someone’s mother, sister, or even grandmother”

Police continue to appeal to the public for information, asking them to call 0800 755 021 to speak directly to the investigation team.

Anyone with information can also call 105 or visit usepolice.govt.nz/use-105 and quote file number 240312/9837.

Information can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Williams has previously said he hopes publishing photos of the woman’s clothes will prompt someone to come forward.

“She could be someone’s mother, sister, even grandmother,” he said.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter covering breaking news. Joined Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.