A man has been arrested and charged with murder — almost five years after the body of a woman was found in Ruatoria.
Porirua woman Kathleen Kawana, 46, disappeared from her home in Titahi Bay in June 2019.
The mother-of-eight’s body was found in an abandoned house in Ruatoria in August the same year.
“We know Kathleen’s family have long hoped for answers and the investigation team has worked hard to get to this point,” Detective Inspector Dave de Lange said.
“Holding to account the person responsible for her murder has been our focus, and we hope this brings some relief to Kathleen’s family.”
A 47-year-old Flaxmere man was due to appear in the Hastings District Court tomorrow charged with murder.