Auckland woman Pauline Hanna hired a private investigator prior to her unexplained death, according to a report.
Hanna, also known as Pauline Polkinghorne, was found dead on April 5 in her home on Upland Rd, Remuera. A post-mortem was conducted two days later, while a scene examination of the 63-year-old's property lasted more than 10 days.
One month on from her mysterious death, Stuff is reporting Hanna employed the investigator within the last year and police are attempting to track down the investigator as part of Operation Kian.
Hanna was a top health director with Counties Manukau DHB. She held several roles with the organisation she joined in 1998, and most recently led Auckland's COVID-19 supply chain work.
Newshub contacted police regarding the reports, but were told they were unable to comment on, or confirm any specifics.
The circumstances of her death remain unknown, with Detective Inspector Aaron Pascoe this week telling Newshub that the investigation "remains ongoing" and "we are continuing to treat her death as unexplained".
"Police are unable to provide any further comment around specific aspects of our enquiries to-date, at this time," he said.
The last update released publicly by police was on April 16 when Det Insp Pascoe said police were "continuing with a number of enquiries and are also still awaiting various results and analysis".
Hanna, who was an executive project director, at the Counties Manukau District Health Board, was laid to rest at a funeral at Parnell's Holy Trinity Cathedral in mid-April.
It was attended by a large number of friends and family, including Hanna's husband Philip, an eye specialist, who told NZ Herald in April that he was being treated as a "person of suspect".
He described Hanna as a "magnificent woman" and said their relationship was "perfect".
"Pauline was a beautiful lovely, lovely, lovely lady. I failed her. I failed her. I don't want to have to remember anything about her I just want her to come back into my life."
