Couple at homicide inquiry house 'kept to themselves'

A couple who lived at the Nelson home at the centre of a homicide inquiry had moved into the area recently and kept to themselves, a neighbour says.

Police launched an investigation after the 39-year-old woman was found dead in the unit on Salisbury Rd, Richmond, about 6.30pm yesterday.

It is believed a family member discovered her body after she did not turn up to work yesterday.

Police said the woman would not be formally identified until tomorrow.

A close neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said she did not see or hear anything suspicious yesterday.

"We didn't hear anything until the ambulance arrived early evening.''

She said a man and woman had moved into the unit about 18 months ago.

"I had my doubts about them. They never, as I say, communicated very well - at least I didn't think so,'' she told APNZ.

"They kept very much to themselves. They didn't speak to neighbours a lot, and they haven't been here very long.''

The couple were a bit younger than than mostly older people in the area, the neighbour said.

They had never been problems in the past and the death had come as a surprise.

Forensic staff had visited last night and police photographers were this morning surveying the area.

The area was still cordoned off and police vans remained at the scene.

Police had spoken to neighbours and were wandering around the area all night.

The neighbour said she had "a restless night'' after she was interviewed yesterday, but still felt safe in the area.

The death came hours before a man's body was found face-down on the pavement in Timaru.

Police are investigating the cause of death after the body was found about 4am today, Sergeant Lindsay Turner of police southern communications said.

"We're just trying to establish the cause of death. It may have been a natural cause, it could have been anything _ we're not sure at this stage.''

The man's age was not yet known.

Mr Turner would not say which street the body was found on.

Photo: NZ Herald