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Man charged with New Year's Day murder of Pukehina woman

By 1News Reporters
6:16pm
A vehicle of the New Zealand police has pulled over a vehicle for speeding in Cromwell in central Otago in the South Island.

A vehicle of the New Zealand police has pulled over a vehicle for speeding in Cromwell in central Otago in the South Island. (Source: istock.com)

A man has been charged with the murder of a woman in the western Bay of Plenty on New Year's Day.

Police were called to a property on Old Coach Rd in Pukehina around 3pm on January 1, where a woman was found dead.

A 50-year-old man was initially charged with assaulting a person in a family relationship, Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Varnam said. However, he now faced a charge of murder.

He was due to appear in the Tauranga District Court tomorrow.

Police inquiries were ongoing, and anyone with information was asked to contact Police on 105 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

New ZealandCrime and JusticeTauranga and Bay of Plenty

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