A homicide investigation is underway after a woman was found dead at a Whirinaki property overnight. Photo / Denise Piper

Police launch homicide probe in Far North after woman found dead

Author: Brodie Stone,
Publish Date: Tue, 2 Jun 2026, 3:03pm

A Far North man has been accused of murder after a woman was found dead over the long weekend.

The 26-year-old, who has interim name suppression, appeared before Judge Taryn Bayley at Whangārei District Court on Tuesday morning.

He has been charged with murder, arson, burglary, theft of a motor vehicle, using a credit card to obtain a pecuniary advantage, and failure to assist police.

Police said inquiries started when an SUV was found on fire near Tangowahine about 9am yesterday.

Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston said police began looking for the registered owner.

“We attended the registered owner’s address in Ōpononi where a burglary had occurred, but the woman was not present, increasing our concerns.”

A police patrol car found a man walking along State Highway 14, between Whangārei and Kaipara.

Johnston said he was in possession of several items of interest, and taken into custody.

Johnston said police made further inquiries at an address in Whirinaki overnight and found a woman dead.

A homicide investigation was then launched.

Johnston said a scene examination would continue at the address today, and police would carry out further inquiries in Ōpononi.

Formal identification of the woman is underway.

Johnston said the woman’s family last heard from her on Sunday night.

“The woman had last been in contact with whānau on Sunday night, and what has taken place is simply a tragedy,” Johnston said.

The man appeared in court this morning .

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear in the High Court at Whangārei on June 19, where he was expected to enter a plea.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.