The Kaikohe community in Northland is in shock after an elderly woman died during a home invasion late last night.
A homicide investigation was launched early on Friday morning. The local mayor has described the tragic death as a sign of the stressful times being felt across Aotearoa.
A forensics team arrived at the scene of a homicide investigation in the quiet township of Kaikohe in the Far North.
Police were called to the Taraire Street address at 11:30pm Thursday following reports of an intruder at the property. A female resident died at the scene.
Police have been speaking to neighbours to gather information about what happened.
Detective Inspector Rhys Johnson said someone was seen running away on foot, leaving behind a pair of shoes and another item of clothing.
Patsy Lawrence, who lives a few houses away, said it was a shock.
"It's pretty sad really... A bit of a shock to wake up and find out that somebody's been injured you know? And they've lost their life," Lawrence said.
She's still trying to comprehend what happened.
"Sad. Just to hear that it was someone from our street, from our community," Lawrence said.
Newshub understands the victim was an elderly woman. Police said she was seriously injured during a struggle with an intruder at the property and despite the best efforts of emergency services, she sadly died at the scene.
Community chaplain Monte Tito knew the woman who Newshub understands was a dialysis patient.
"Yes, I do know her personally and worked with her over the years. I've known her husband who's passed away, it's devastating. She's just had her place done up down there," Tito said.
He wanted to help the victim's whānau by delivering them some kai.
"It's huge. It's devastating and sometimes we look to the police for answers but sometimes those answers are within ourselves as people," Tito said.
"We have to come together and bring everybody to the table and say, 'what can we do to change things?'"
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania said it's a shock for the community and he's saddened that times have changed from when he grew up here.
"I think it's just a reality of the environment we're living in, the cost pressures, alcohol and substance abuse - harm that we're feeling across Aotearoa," Tepania said.
"We can't live with the kind of mentality that I grew up with, you know, where everything is hunky-dory and everything is safe."
A crime scene acting as a symbol of that pressure the mayor spoke of on the people of this tight-knit Northland community.
