Police say a Northland woman died due to foul play and are appealing to the public to help locate items of clothing and for sightings of two vehicles.
Joanna Mai Sione-Lauaki, known as Jo, was found dead by a member of the public between Omamari Beach and Aranga Beach on August 2.
Her vehicle — a black Mitsubishi Outlander — was located at the Omamari Beach carpark near the public toilets.
1News understands that police were called after she texted the word “help” to her husband the night before her body was found.
Detective Inspector Alan Symonds said the investigation team has been working to determine the circumstances of her death.
“We can now reveal that unfortunately and sadly, the post-mortem results have determined Jo was a victim of foul play.
“Our thoughts of course are with Jo’s whānau and her family and friends at this time, and we are committed to locating the person or persons responsible for this and holding them to account.”
Joanna Mai Sione-Lauaki, known as Jo, was found dead by a member of the public between Omamari Beach and Aranga Beach on August 2. (Source: 1News)
Symonds said there were a “few items” police needed to find as part of their inquiries.
A white Nike T-shirt, black or dark grey Everlast pants and red Adidas scuffs have not been located, he said.
“We’re asking people who are in the area or from the area who have found or find items of clothing to please let us know.”
Sightings of two vehicles are also sought — Sione-Lauaki’s Mitsubishi Outlander and a white 2012 Toyota Hilux without registration plates, an orange hazard light on the roof, and aluminium dog cages on the back.
Symonds said it is believed the white Hilux was in the area where Sione-Lauaki’s body was discovered around that time.
He said the area was a small tight-knit community but it was remote and isolated.
“No piece of information is insignificant so if anybody knows anything about what happened to Jo, we’d really like you to get in touch with us.
“Jo is a mother who was going about her daily business and deserved to return home to her family.”
‘Her presence was uplifting’ – family remember ‘vibrant’ woman
Her sister-in-law Matilda Kahotea previously told 1News that Sione-Lauaki was “very vibrant”.
“If you walk into a quiet room, she was the type of wāhine that would light it up,” Kahotea said.
“She’d get in there, start laughing and then everybody would be laughing with her. Bubbly is an understatement actually… Her presence was uplifting.”
Sione-Lauaki worked with Legacy Sisterhood, a woman’s empowerment programme.
“For a wāhine so young, she experienced a lot and her lived experience gave her that courage to lead other wāhine through their hard times,” Kahotea said. “That’s what Joanna was good at.
