The body of a woman allegedly beaten to death was found to have methamphetamine in her liver.

Mathew Korewha is on trial in the High Court at Whangarei for the murder of his partner Barbara Moka.

The Crown says Korewha killed Ms Moka in a paddock before wrapping her body in a blanket and dog chain and then hid it under branches at a nearby creek.

Forensic Pathologist Joanne Glengarry says some of her organs had already decomposed, but her liver showed her body had started to break down methamphetamine in her system.

Ms Glengarry says Ms Moka also had multiple fractures in her skull, ribs and nose and had bruises on her abdomen, arms and legs.