Woman dead in Kaikohe home invasion was a pensioner who ...

A homicide investigation has been launched and inquiries are under way after the death of a woman in the Far North District of Kaikohe overnight.

Police were called to a home in Taraire St at about 11.30pm on Thursday after reports an intruder was found inside the property.

A struggle between “the occupants and the intruder has resulted in one of the occupants being seriously injured”.

Neighbours have told Stuff person who died was Linda Woods, a pensioner in her 70s who “wouldn’t hurt anyone”.

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Despite efforts from emergency services, the victim died at the scene.

Abigail Dougherty

Police cordon a property on Taraire St in Kaikohe where a woman died after a home invasion overnight.

A neighbour told a Stuff reporter the victim had lived in the Kaikohe home for many years and “everybody loved her”.

The neighbour said the woman was in her 70s and “wouldn’t hurt anyone”. The neighbour said it was “crazy” what had happened.

She hadn’t heard any disturbance overnight but had noticed that around 1am, all the lights in the home were on and there were cars in the street.

Abigail Dougherty

Police are investigating a homicide in Kaikohe, after a person was killed overnight.

Around midday on Friday, police were seen cordoning a grey house down the end of a driveway.

Three police cars were at the scene and officers were standing under a blue tent.

Far North Mayor Moko Tepania,​ who lives in Kaikohe, said anything like this in the community was “terrible”.

“Our community is extremely tight-knit, we’re all close. Our community will be feeling it, and I’m sending love and aroha.

“I know we will come together and just want to remind everyone to be vigilant.”

Jason Dorday/Stuff

Far North mayor Moko Tepania was saddened to hear the news about the death of a woman in his home town of Kaikohe. (File photo)

Northland Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston​ said police were working to establish exactly what had happened and had been speaking to a number of witnesses overnight to identify, and find, a person who left the scene before they arrived.

“At this stage, no arrests have been made,” Johnston said.

Johnston said this was a “tragic incident” which had shaken the community.

“We know residents will be waking up this morning to this shocking news, and we want to reassure them our inquiries are well under way to locate the person responsible and hold them to account for their actions.

“We would like to hear from anyone who may have been in the area overnight and saw something, or someone, which may assist us with our inquiries.”

Abigail Dougherty/Stuff

Northland Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston said police were working to establish exactly what had happened.

Wane Wharerau, chairman of Te-Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-O-Ngāpuhi, said it was a terrible situation and his heart went out to the whānau.

He said Te Hau Ora o Ngāpuhi and Ngāpuhi iwi social services would be speaking to the whānau to offer support.

Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis said his condolences were also with the whānau involved.

“My condolences go out to the whānau impacted by this tragedy and my thoughts are with the community of Kaikohe, kia kaha kia māia kia manawanui.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the 105 phone service or online at police.govt.nz/use-105, using Update My Report. Reference file number 230602/1746.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.