Police are seeking sightings of the vehicle belonging to 38-year-old Joanna Mai Sione-Lauaki, the woman who was found dead near a Northland beach on Friday.
Sione-Lauaki's body was found by a member of the public out for a walk around 5km north of the Omamari Beach settlement at about 2pm on Friday. She had been reported missing earlier on Friday after she did not return home on Thursday night.
Yesterday, 1News reported Sione-Lauaki, known as Jo, had texted the word "help" to her husband.
Sione-Lauaki's vehicle is a black Mitsubishi Outlander and was found by police in the car park near the entrance to Omamari Beach.
"We believe the vehicle was parked there sometime after 7pm on Thursday, 1 August," Detective Senior Sergeant John Clayton said.
Police would like to hear from anyone who has information which could assist its inquiries.
"In particular we are appealing for sightings of the black Mitsubishi Outlander in the car park at Omamari Beach, or sightings of anyone near the car or on the beach on Thursday evening (1 August) or Friday morning (2 August)."
Clayton said a post mortem was completed over the weekend and police were awaiting the findings of a pathologist. Sione-Lauaki's death is currently being treated as unexplained.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 105 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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