Police have released the name of a woman who was found dead in a central Auckland apartment last week.
She was 38-year-old Luisa Qelesenikau Mate.
Police were called to a property on Day St in the Auckland CBD around 7.35pm on Saturday, where officers discovered the woman dead shortly after arriving.
A 38-year-old man, who police said was known to the victim, was charged with murder. He was remanded in custody and is set to appear in the High Court on November 18.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin said, “our thoughts are with Luisa’s family and her children, for the loss they have suffered, and our investigation team is continuing to support them through the process”.
A GoFundMe page was set up by Mate’s brother to take her “home to Fiji”.
“She was a light to everyone who knew her caring, strong, and full of love,” a statement on the page said.
“Our family’s greatest wish is to bring Luisa home to Fiji from New Zealand so she can rest close to our mother. Unfortunately, the costs of repatriation, funeral arrangements, and related expenses are far beyond what our family can manage on our own.”
Anyone with relevant information can contact police via 105.
